Nathan Rourke will soon be a Jacksonville Jaguar.
The 24-year-old Victoria native tweeted Sunday that he will soon sign with Jacksonville, which was one of 12 teams he worked out for after finishing the ’22 season with the BC Lions. The others included: Cleveland, New York Giants, Kansas City, Cincinnati, LA Chargers, Las Vegas, Minnesota, Denver, Indianapolis, Tampa Bay and Arizona.
Rourke met the full Jags staff when he worked there in December. Had a great lawyer there in @HenryBurris. I felt they offered him a real shot at the #2 job in 2023, liked the system and the stability in the organization. Offered guaranteed first year $ and his best chance to develop https://t.co/745XZyFqJJ
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) January 15, 2023
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— Nathan Rourke (@nathan_rourke) January 15, 2023
Ladge reports that Rourke met with the Jacksonville staff when he worked out with them in December, and says Rourke felt he had a real chance to be the backup behind Trevor Lawrence in 2023. Ladge also notes that former CFL quarterback Henry Burris, currently the offensive quality control coach with the Jags, was a “huge advocate” for Rourke’s signing in Jacksonville.
“I want to apologize for keeping many of you on edge, but my corner and I wanted to make sure we did our due diligence and explored every option thoroughly,” the quarterback said in his statement. “After much prayer and consideration, I will be signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I look forward to getting to work with my new teammates and coaches.”
Rourke has reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with the Jaguars. Financial details — and how much of the deal is guaranteed — weren’t immediately available, but the NFL’s minimum salary for 2023 is $750,000.
He is expected to sign his NFL contract on Sunday night.
The six-foot-two, 209-pound Rourke still had one year remaining on his CFL deal, but was eligible to sign a futures deal south of the border under the league’s NFL window.
Rourke appeared to be headed for a good situation in Jacksonville, which rallied from a 27-0 deficit to earn a stunning 31-30 victory over the Chargers in NFL wild-card playoff action Saturday night.
The Jaguars (9-8) finished the regular season with five straight wins, including a 20-16 decision over the Tennessee Titans, to secure first place in the AFC South.
Sophomore Trevor Lawrence, the first player selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, is firmly established as Jacksonville’s starter. Lawrence and the Jaguars (3-14) struggled mightily in ’21 under former head coach Urban Meyer, but both improved tremendously this season under head coach Doug Pederson.
Pederson has gotten a lot of credit for Lawrence’s improved play this year. A former NFL quarterback himself, Pederson won a Super Bowl as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018.
Behind Lawrence is CJ Beathard, in his sixth NFL season and second with Jacksonville.
Beathard, a ’17 third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, appeared in four games this season, completing 7 of 11 passes for 35 yards with an interception. During his NFL career, Beathard has completed 300 of 510 passes (58.8 percent) for 3,537 yards with 18 TDs and 14 interceptions.
The Jaguars also have EJ Perry, a Browns rookie, on the practice roster.
Rourke’s busy training schedule was not surprising. After the Lions’ season, he said his plan is to work with NFL officials and explore interest down south.
Rourke was passed over in the 2021 NFL Draft following his college career at Ohio State. He then signed with BC, which took Rourke in the second round (15th overall) of the ’21 CFL draft.
Rourke served as veteran Michael Riley’s backup in his first season with BC, but received many first-team practice reps while Riley dealt with a season-long elbow ailment. After making two starts as a rookie, Rourke took the CFL by storm in 2022.
He threw for over 300 yards six times (including three 400-yard performances) in leading BC to an 8-1 record. But Rourke’s ’22 season was cut short by a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot that required surgery.
Rourke returned for BC’s regular-season finale as the Lions (12-6) finished second in the West. Rourke led BC against Calgary 30-16 in the divisional semifinal, completing 22 of 30 passes for 321 yards and two TDs.
BC’s season ended with a 28-20 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West final. Rourke completed 20 of 37 passes for 300 yards with a TD and two interceptions while rushing twice for 20 yards.
In 10 regular season starts, Rourke completed 255 of 324 passes (78.7 percent for the league) for 3,349 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He also ran for 304 yards and seven TDs to be named the CFL’s top Canadian.
“It was an absolute joy to play for my home province in front of so many friends and family,” Rourke said. “I thoroughly enjoyed my CFL experience, playing the game I love in front of my fellow Canadians was really special.
“The CFL was an unexpected detour in my football journey, but a necessary one and I am grateful to the Lions for allowing me to learn how to be a professional and grow on and off the field. Thanks to the entire BC Lions organization for giving me a chance to be your quarterback and thanks to the fans for making the last two seasons so memorable.”
Rourke’s departure is certainly big for both the CFL and the Lions, but the BC club still has a veteran presence under center.
BC acquired veteran Vernon Adams Jr. from Montreal after Rourke’s injury last season. Adams has won four of his six starts, completing 118 of 180 passes (65.6 percent) for 1,504 yards with six TDs and one interception while rushing for 129 yards on 14 carries (9.2-yard avg.).
Antonio Pipkin, another former Alouettes starter, is also on the Lions’ roster.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published on January 15, 2023.
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