Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke has been listed as New England’s backup quarterback for the Patriots’ regular season final in Week 18 against the New York Jets.
Bailey Zappe starts with 2021 first-round, 15th overall NFL Draft pick Mac Jones the third-string emergency QB.
“Nathan had a good week of practice, so we activated him for the second spot,” head coach Bill Belichick said following his team’s 17-3 loss.
The 25-year-old travelled and dressed as the Pats’ third-string QB in Week 16 and 17 against Denver and Buffalo respectively after being claimed off waivers on December 18.
Rourke has a lot of respect for Belichick who has helped lead the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships. The 71-year-old brought in the six-foot-one, 210-pound QB because he liked his production in the CFL and NFL preseason. Belichick has noted his work ethic since arriving in New England.
Active Patriots quarterbacks — starter Bailey Zappe and backup Nathan Rourke — take the field in Foxborough.
Mac Jones demoted to emergency third-string QB.https://t.co/dHtG0hPU0f#Patriots #ForeverNE #NFL pic.twitter.com/36h592eFuX
— Justin Dunk (@JDunk12) January 7, 2024
During the 2022 CFL season, Rourke completed 78.7 percent of his passes for 3,349 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while starting for the B.C. Lions. He ran 39 times for 304 yards (7.8 per carry) and seven touchdowns during 10 regular season games, nine starts. The Ohio University graduate won the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian award despite missing half the season with a Lisfranc injury.
Rourke signed with the Jaguars last offseason after an extensive NFL workout tour. During three preseason games with Jacksonville, he completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 348 yards with one touchdown and zero interceptions while rushing 14 times for 39 yards and one touchdown.
