Canadian Rourke joins Jaguars: Canadian talent Nathan Rourke has been added to the active roster of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Trevor Lawrence optimism: Starting quarterback Lawrence remains optimistic about his chances to play after a knee injury.
Rourke’s Impressive CFL Career: Rourke was the CFL’s top Canadian in 2022 and his preseason performance with the Jaguars stood out.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are making a strategic move as they prepare to face the New Orleans Saints. Canadian linebacker Nathan Rourke of Victoria has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster. The decision comes after starter Trevor Lawrence suffered a left knee injury during the Jaguars’ recent win over the Indianapolis Colts.
As Jacksonville (4-2, AFC South leader) prepares for Thursday night’s game against the New Orleans Saints (3-3), Lawrence’s status remains uncertain. However, Lawrence expressed optimism earlier this week about returning to action soon.
Rourke, who is 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, originally signed with Jacksonville as a free agent on Jan. 6 after two seasons with the B.C. of the CFL. lions During the Jaguars’ exhibition schedule, Rourke put his skills on display, completing 23 of 35 passes for 348 yards and a touchdown. He was later placed on waivers but found a spot on the Jaguars’ practice roster.
In the 2022 CFL season, Rourke emerged as the league’s top performer in Canada. He showed remarkable accuracy, completing 78.7 percent of his passes (255-of-324) for 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions in 10 regular-season starts. In addition, his ground game was strong with 304 rushing yards, an average of 7.8 yards per carry and seven touchdowns.
Rourke’s achievements were not limited to the CFL; In his senior year at Ohio University (2017-2019), he had 7,457 passing yards and 60 touchdowns, leading the Bobcats in three straight. He won the Jon Cornish Trophy twice (2017-18) as the best Canadian football player in the NCAA.
Rourke’s journey to the NFL began when the B.C. He was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2020 CFL draft, 15th overall. The 2020 CFL season was canceled due to the global pandemic, so Rourke officially began his professional career in Canada the following year.
With the move, the Jaguars added quarterback insurance by signing Nathan Rourke to the 53-man roster. C. J. Beathard was the only quarterback on the active roster before that move. That means he could step in if both Lawrence and Beathard can’t continue to play during Thursday’s game. He could also remain on the active roster for several weeks while Lawrence’s knee injury plays out.
The Jaguars hope to secure their options as the season progresses, and Rourke’s presence on the roster adds depth to the quarterback position. As Trevor Lawrence’s knee injury situation evolves, Rourke’s role on the team could change, making him an important player in the next few games.
