The New England Patriots will have at least one familiar face in their quarterback room when the new NFL year begins on March 13.
The Pats, as confirmed by a league source, have re-signed quarterback Nathan Rourke. The 25-year-old was originally claimed off waivers by New England on Dec. 18, but did not play a single snap for the team.
Rourke began his college football career in 2016 by playing one season for the Fort Scott Greyhounds in Kansas before transferring to Ohio University in 2017. Rourke led the Bobcats to a 25–14 overall record as their starting quarterback. Throughout his three seasons at Ohio, he led the team to three consecutive bowl victories in the 2017 Bahamas Bowl, 2018 Frisco Bowl, and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in January 2020.
The Victoria BC native’s football journey would next lead him back home to Canada, where he was drafted in the second round with the No.15 overall pick by the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL). After being forced to sit out his first season (due the CFL cancellation of their season, amid the COVID-19 pandemic) he played two seasons with the Lions. Rourke set the single-season CFL record for completion percentage (78.7 percent) during the 2022 CFL season.
Rourke then entered the NFL by signing a three-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars in January 2023. Though he was released during final roster cuts at the conclusion of training camp, he was quickly re-signed by the Jags to their practice squad. Following two separate stints on their scout team, Jacksonville released Rourke on December 16. The Pats claimed him just two days later after losing former backups Malik Cunningham to the Baltimore Ravens and Will Grier to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Rourke was active for the Patriots season-finale against the New York Jets, serving as the primary backup to starter Bailey Zappe, while former first-rounder Mac Jones was inactive.
Rourke’s signing is likely to be the first step in what promises to be an overhaul at the position for New England. Earlier this week at the NFL Scouting Combine, multiple outlets reported that the Patriots intend to select a quarterback at No. 3 overall in April’s draft, sign a veteran in free agency, and part ways with Jones via trade or outright release.
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