Tag: BC Lions

Jaguars’ newly signed QB Nathan Rourke undergoes foot surgery

Nathan Rourke had a plate and screws surgically removed from his foot Monday.

Former Canadian Football League star and newly signed Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Nathan Rourke underwent surgery Monday to have a plate and screws removed from his foot, according to TSN’s Farhan Lalji.

Rourke, 24, is a Victoria, Canada native, but played collegiately for the Ohio Bobcats. After trying out at wide receiver for the New York Giants, Rourke joined the CFL’s BC Lions. During the 2022 season, Rourke was one of the most prolific passers in the CFL, finishing the year with a 78.7 completion percentage and 25 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.

After a lengthy tour of interested NFL teams that reportedly included 12 stops, Rourke chose to join the Jaguars.

“There were teams that made some offers, but ultimately, the situation and the prospect of helping the team out and being able to compete for a number two job was best in Jacksonville,” Rourke told 3DownNation earlier in January. “Ultimately, we made the decision that we did because the goal is to be an NFL quarterback and an NFL starter, I think this is a good first step in that direction.”

In his first season in the CFL, Rourke suffered a Lisfranc injury that required surgery to repair. The rehab of his latest injury will reportedly be handled by the Jaguars medical staff and Rourke plans to move to Jacksonville next month.

CFL star QB Nathan Rourke to sign with Jaguars

The former BC Lions quarterback visited 12 NFL teams before choosing to sign with the Jaguars.

Nathan Rourke of the Canadian Football League’s BC Lions plans to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he hopes to become Trevor Lawrence’s backup, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Rourke, 24, was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian for the 2022 season after completing 78.7 percent of his passes with 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He was named a Top Performer of the Week five times and Top Performer of the Month twice.

After the CFL season ended for the Lions, Rourke went on a lengthy tour of interested NFL teams, reportedly visiting 12 of them, including the Raiders, Broncos, Giants, and Browns.

In Jacksonville, there’s no chance Rourke climbs to the top spot on the depth chart by beating out Lawrence for the job. Instead, he’ll be looking for the No. 2 spot in 2023 and beyond.

C.J. Beathard is currently the second quarterback for the Jaguars, but he’s due to become a free agent in the offseason. In two seasons in Jacksonville, Beathard has only appeared in clean-up duty, throwing 13 total passes. He previously spent four years with the San Francisco 49ers.

The Jaguars also have rookie E.J. Perry on the practice squad, a former Boston College and Brown quarterback who had one touchdown and three interceptions in preseason.

Chiefs to host BC Lions QB Nathan Rourke for tryout

The #Chiefs are hosting the 2022 CFL Most Outstanding Canadian — BC Lions QB Nathan Rourke — for a tryout on Monday.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to host several players for tryouts now that they’re permitted to sign players on reserve/future contracts.

On Monday, they’ll have the 2022 CFL Most Outstanding Canadian in town for a tryout. According to TSN’s Farhan Lalji, the Chiefs are set to have BC Lions QB Nathan Rourke in for a tryout today. Rourke has already visited a few NFL teams including the Jaguars, Vikings and Bengals.

Rourke, 24, went undrafted out of Ohio University in the 2021 NFL draft, but he was a second-round pick in the CFL draft in 2020. The CFL canceled their 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so he didn’t play.

In May of 2021, Rourke signed a three-year contract with the BC Lions. He wasn’t a starter in his first season, but he debuted as a starter in June of 2022. He’d go on to set a CFL single-season record, completing 78.7 percent of his passes during the 2022 season with 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. It’s even more impressive when you consider that he missed a portion of the season with a foot injury. Rourke finished the year with an 8-1 record as a starter with the BC Lions.

According to Lalji, Rourke has two more tryouts scheduled for this week, so if the Chiefs want him for the 2023 offseason, they’ll have to get a deal done sooner-than-later.

Why would Kansas City be working out a quarterback? Firstly, they need someone to throw to players like WR Slade Bolden, who is also in town for a tryout on Monday. Secondly, if Chad Henne retires following the 2022 NFL season, you’re going to want to bring in as much competition as possible to push for the No. 2 quarterback job.

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CFL star QB Nathan Rourke reportedly visiting Jaguars

CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian is spending Monday visiting the Jaguars.

BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke of the Canadian Football League is on a tour of NFL visits and it included a Monday stop with the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Rourke, 24, was named CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian for the 2022 season, earning Top Performer of the Week five times and Top Performer of the Month twice. After the Lions lost to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Division Finals in November, Rourke announced that he had several NFL workouts lined up.

According to Schefter, that included a stop with the Las Vegas Raiders last week. Rourke is also scheduled to visit the Denver Broncos on Tuesday after spending Monday with the Jaguars.

Jacksonville has its starting quarterback for the foreseeable future in Trevor Lawrence, but could easily be in the market for a backup quarterback.

Second on the depth chart right now is former San Francisco 49ers passer C.J. Beathard, who has thrown five passes over two seasons with the Jaguars. In his four years with the 49ers, Beathard had a 2-10 record as a starter with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

The Jaguars also have undrafted rookie E.J. Perry on the practice squad.

Rourke completed 78.7 percent of his passes during the 2022 season with 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also added 304 rushing yards with seven touchdowns. In May 2021, he tried out with the New York Giants as a wide receiver.

Former Alabama WR John Metchie III selected No. 59 overall in the CFL draft

John Metchie was drafted to the Canadian football League today despite being selected by the Houston Texans of the NFL… which isn’t as uncommon as you’d think.

Former Alabama wide receiver [autotag]John Metchie[/autotag] III has been drafted to play professional football for the second time this week! The Canadian native was selected in the seventh round with the No. 59 selection by the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.

While Metchie will be suiting up for the Houston Texans this fall, the reason this is done is so that if Metchie were to not make it in the NFL, the BC Lions still have title to his playing rights.

It is actually a very common thing to do in the CFL. For example, the Carolina Panthers back-up running-back Chuba Hubbard was selected in the 5th round with the No. 43 pick in the 2021 CFL draft by the Calgary Stampede.

There are four active Alabama players in the CFL; Matt Womack, Tim Williams, ArDarius Stewart, and Cyrus Kouandjio with around a dozen other players who were formerly in the league.

Metchie is a two-time Jon Cornish Trophy Winner which is awarded annually to the top Canadian student athlete in college football.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Metchie and other former Alabama players in the NFL!

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Former Chiefs WR De’Anthony Thomas signs with CFL’s BC Lions

Former #Chiefs WR De’Anthony Thomas is getting another chance to play professional football after signing with the CFL’s BC Lions.

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A former Kansas City Chiefs draft pick is getting another shot at playing professional football, but this time it’s in the Canadian Football League.

The CFL’s BC Lions announced on Tuesday that they’d signed former Chiefs WR De’Anthony Thomas. A fourth-round pick by way of the University of Oregon in the 2014 NFL draft, Thomas spent six seasons with Kansas City as a wide receiver and return specialist.

Thomas appeared in 61 games over those six seasons, amassing 65 receptions for 509 yards and four touchdowns along with 30 rushing attempts for 190 yards and two scores. His biggest impact came on special teams where he returned a combined 163 kicks and punts for 4,294 yards and one touchdown.

Thomas was released by Kansas City in October of 2019 and was picked up by the Ravens for the remainder of the season. After re-signing with Baltimore the following March, Thomas opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was ultimately released by the Ravens ahead of the 2021 NFL season.

The 29-year-old will have a shot to compete and make the BC Lions’ team during the upcoming CFL season. His greatest asset has always been his speed and elusiveness. Thomas could blossom into a star north of the border in the latter half of his football-playing career.

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Former Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell signs to play in Canadian Football League

Tyvis Powell inking a deal in Canada!

Former Ohio State safety Tyvis Powell will look to continue his professional football career north of the border. Powell has signed a contract with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.

Powell played for the Buckeyes from 2013-2015 where he recorded 195 total tackles and eight interceptions. The most famous pick of his career came during his freshman season in the final seconds against Michigan. Powell slid in front of a Wolverine receiver to secure the victory for OSU.

The former safety was also named a captain during the Bucks 2015 national championship season. He was even named the defensive MVP in the win over Oregon in the College Football Playoff championship game.

Powell went undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft after leaving Ohio State early. He spent four seasons bouncing around the league and the last game the safety played in was in 2018 with the San Francisco 49ers. He appeared in seven games with the Niners, with six total tackles.

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