Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke will officially make his 2024 debut for the B.C. Lions on Sunday, earning the start against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Rourke was signed by the Lions on Tuesday following a year-and-a-half-long foray in the NFL that included stops with four different teams: the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Giants, and Atlanta Falcons. He began practicing with the team the next day and will make his return in front of a hometown crowd that is expected to be one of the largest of the year.
In 2022, the Victoria, B.C. native completed 78.7 percent of his passes for 3,349 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions during parts of 10 starts with the B.C. Lions. He rushed 39 times for 304 yards and seven touchdowns. That November, Rourke won the three-down league’s Most Outstanding Canadian award despite missing half the season with a Lisfranc injury.
Fellow quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., who was on an M.O.P. pace through the first eight games of the year, is still sidelined with a knee injury but remains on the roster as the emergency third-stringer for the second straight week. Chase Brice stays the primary backup after Jake Dolegala, who started in Week 10, was released earlier this week.
On the defensive side of the ball, rookie Canadian safety Cristophe Beaulieu (ankle) has been placed on the one-game injured list. Patrice Rene, who has made 27 defensive tackles, eight special teams tackles, and a sack this season primarily playing strong-side linebacker, will get the nod, with rookie Charlie Ringland drawing into the lineup as insurance. The team will also swap American defensive tackles, as Jonah Tavai will dress in place of Marcus Moore, who will be a healthy scratch.
The B.C. Lions (5-4) will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-6) on Sunday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
