Big Blue ready for Rourke

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/08/2024 (422 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sunday’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers-B.C. Lions tilt in Vancouver just got that much more interesting.

After pursuing the NFL dream for a year and a half, star Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke signed a three-year deal with his hometown Lions on Tuesday.

The 26-year-old from Victoria — who will reportedly earn $749,200 in hard money in 2025 and $809,000 in 2026 — became available after the Atlanta Falcons let him go Sunday after a rough preseason outing. He also had stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, and New York Giants.

With just five days to prepare and get reacquianted with the CFL game, should the Bombers expect to see him this week?

“They don’t sign him not to play him,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea.

“He’s been in the system, and he knows what to do… So I’m sure he’s a smart guy and can learn whatever new parts of the playbook are there for him to learn.”

Rourke’s return comes at a perfect time as starter Vernon Adams Jr. is still recovering from a knee injury he suffered in Week 9’s 25-0 loss in Winnipeg.

Last week, the Lions (5-4) — losers of three straight — rolled with Jacob Dolegala in a 33-16 loss in Edmonton in which he completed 14-of-23 passes for 146 yards.

In Rourke’s lone season as a CFL starter back in 2022, he completed 78.7 per cent of his passes for 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 starts. He was likely going to finish that year as the league’s Most Outstanding Player, but an injury took him out of the back half of the campaign.

“I’ll say this: I wish he got more of a chance in the NFL. I think he’s a good player. I don’t think he got the right opportunity that he deserves,” said linebacker Adam Bighill.

“You see that a lot right now in the NFL with guys going down there. The NFL is continually moving toward a draft-only kind of option of like if you’re not drafted, you’re kind of not even on the board. I know a lot of people in the Canadian Football League and fans are excited he’s back in the CFL. And if he’s happy, I’m excited for him as well.”

Bombers defensive back Tyrell Ford knows what it’s like to be a Canadian trying to make it down south. He was with Rourke at a Jaguars workout in 2022 before spending training camp with the Green Bay Packers in 2023. Ford worked out for six different NFL teams.

The Falcons claimed Rourke on waivers Aug. 1 and played him Aug. 9 against the Miami Dolphins where he went 3-for-13 for 37 yards and 24 rushing yards in four drives.

“Everywhere you go, it’s different, you have to learn, so you’re always a little bit behind, especially for me as I never played American football at all. So, when I went over, everything was new, so, I had to learn all that. And then at the same time, you’re trying to fight for reps with NFL draft picks and stuff,” said Ford.

“I can only imagine what it would be like to learn a whole playbook (in Atlanta) and run an offence in what he had. Our stuff as a defensive back is basic, and I’d probably need 10 days to feel somewhat comfortable — never mind leading a whole offence and making adjustments and stuff. I think it was definitely tough and unfortunate for him with the situation, but I think he’s a good player.”

Regardless of who’s behind centre for the orange and black, you can expect to see a motivated Lions bunch. The now 3-6 Bombers held them to four first downs, 102 yards of net offence, and zero points in their last meeting.

The season series will be decided between the two clubs Sunday.

“Listen, they’re competitors. They don’t want to put up a performance like that again and we know that,” said Bighill.

“They’re going to come out and have some different stuff in the gameplan for sure, no doubt about it. They’re not going to come out here and try the same thing — it didn’t work out very well for them. They’re a great football team with a lot of weapons, Rourke or not.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31