On August 26, 2023, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nathan Rourke is seen in action during an NFL preseason
football game against the Miami Dolphins in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jaguars defeated the Dolphins, 31-18.
Jacksonville (4-2, first in the AFC South) will meet the New Orleans Saints (3-3) on Thursday night. Lawrence’s
status for that game is unknown, though the quarterback claimed earlier this week that he was optimistic about
playing on a short week.
Rourke, who stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 210 pounds, signed with Jacksonville as a free agency on January 6 after
spending two seasons with the CFL’s B.C. Lions. He completed 23 of 35 throws for 348 yards and a touchdown
during the Jaguars’ exhibition season.
Rourke was then placed on waivers and eventually joined the Jaguars’ practice squad.
Rourke was the CFL’s best Canadian in 2022, completing 255-of-324 passes (78.7 percent) for 3,349 yards, 25
touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in 10 regular-season games. The former Ohio star also rushed 39 times for 304
yards (7.8 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns.
Rourke passed for 7,457 yards and 60 touchdowns at Ohio (2017-19), helping the Bobcats win three straight bowl
games. He has twice won the Jon Cornish Trophy (2017-18) as the best Canadian football player in the NCAA.
Rourke was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2020 CFL draft, 15th overall. He began his professional
career in Canada the next year, since the league cancelled the 2020 season due to the global epidemic.
