Canadian football fans are closely following the NFL preseason as they watch their favorite native quarterback, Nathan Rourke, strive for a spot on the Atlanta Falcons’ roster for 2024.
Rourke made his debut in the Falcons’ red and black uniforms, playing the entire fourth quarter during their game against the Miami Dolphins, which ended in a 20-13 loss. He completed three of 13 passes for 37 yards and rushed twice for 24 yards. However, his performance was hindered by at least three dropped passes from his wide receivers. Rourke showcased his athleticism with a notable 21-yard run.
Despite the loss, Rourke outperformed fellow backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who managed only 11 yards on four completions. Atlanta’s first-round pick, Michael Penix Jr., started the game in place of Kirk Cousins.
Rourke joined the Falcons in early August after a brief offseason with the New York Giants, having also played for the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2023 NFL season. He previously had a successful two-year stint with the BC Lions in the CFL, earning the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 2022.
Rourke will have another opportunity to showcase his skills on August 17 when the Falcons face the Baltimore Ravens.
Heck of a run right there by Nathan Rourke pic.twitter.com/HZEkY1XEXu
— Matt Stewart (@MattStewartTV) August 10, 2024
The positive aspect of his performance was that he outshined fellow backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who managed just 11 yards on four completions. Atlanta’s first-round pick, Michael Penix Jr., started the game in place of Kirk Cousins, who did not play.
Rourke joined the Falcons in early August after a brief offseason with the New York Giants. During the 2023 NFL season, he also played for the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
CFL fans will remember Rourke’s two-year tenure with the BC Lions, where he was drafted in the second round and won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian Award in 2022, scoring 32 total touchdowns in 10 games and leading the Lions to the playoffs.
The BC Lions have named Jake Dolegala as their starting quarterback for their Week 10 matchup against the Edmonton Elks. Dolegala, a six-foot-seven, 242-pound passer, joined the Lions earlier this season and will make his first start for the team on Sunday.
The Lions, currently 5-3-0, are looking to bounce back after two straight losses, including a 25-0 defeat against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week. They sit second in the tight West Division standings and have a chance to overtake the Saskatchewan Roughriders for top spot with a win over the struggling Elks (1-7-0).
Dolegala will face off against Elks quarterback Tre Ford, who has been the starter for Edmonton’s past five wins dating back to last season. The athletic Ford has given the Elks’ fanbase hope that they can stay relevant in the West Division race.
The Lions have dominated the Elks in recent years, riding an eight-game winning streak against their rivals. However, each matchup has featured a different combination of starting quarterbacks, with Dolegala and Ford set to write the latest chapter in the rivalry.
The Lions will look to get their season back on track with a win over the Elks, as they aim to solidify their position atop the West Division standings.
The BC Lions have found a temporary solution to their quarterback dilemma for Week 10. Head coach Rick Campbell has announced that Jake Dolegala will be the starting quarterback for the upcoming game against the Edmonton Elks.
Dolegala is entering his third season in the CFL, having previously spent two years with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Last season, he gained valuable experience due to injuries to Trevor Harris, throwing for 2,641 yards, with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Rick Campbell confirms that Jake Dolegala will get the start in Week 10 for the @BCLions
🗞️: https://t.co/COPUd2bDPx | #CFL pic.twitter.com/9v9F5WSMxl
— CFL (@CFL) August 6, 2024
In the offseason, Dolegala left Saskatchewan to become Adams’ backup with the Lions. In his brief appearance last week, he completed one of three passes for 12 yards while the BC Lions were shut out by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, losing 25-0.
Adams sustained a lower leg injury during the game against Winnipeg and has been ruled out on a week-to-week basis. Reports suggest he may return as early as August 18 against the Bombers.
Entering Week 10, the Lions are tied for first place in the West Division as they compete with the Riders for the top spot. They will face the Elks on Sunday at 7:00 PM EST.
Former BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke is back in the NFL, signing with the Atlanta Falcons for the 2024 season.
Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke has found his way back into the NFL by signing with the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday, potentially getting one last shot to prove himself at the highest level.
Rourke, who was most recently with the New York Giants before being released last week, has had previous NFL stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots. The Falcons had put in a waiver claim for Rourke before he joined the Giants, making Atlanta an ideal landing spot for the 26-year-old.
His most memorable NFL moment came against the Dallas Cowboys in preseason, where he finished with 153 yards passing and one touchdown while being sacked. Rourke’s CFL career with the BC Lions, who selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft, was more successful. He threw for 4,103 yards and 40 total touchdowns, winning the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian award in 2022 after leading the Lions to the playoffs.
In Atlanta, Rourke will battle for the third-string quarterback job behind Kirk Cousins and rookie Michael Penix Jr. He’ll compete with Taylor Heinicke for the final roster spot. CFL fans have been vocal about ensuring Rourke gets a real shot at making an NFL roster, and this is his chance to prove that Canadian quarterbacks can succeed at the highest level. If the NFL doesn’t pan out, the CFL will likely come calling for Rourke’s services once again.
Leave a Reply