It seems that Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke’s tenure with the New England Patriots has come to an end.
According to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots have notified Rourke that they will release him.
This decision would leave New England with four quarterbacks: Experienced players Jacoby Brissett and Bailey Zappe, along with newcomers Drake Maye (selected third overall in the 2024 draft) and Joe Milton (a sixth-round pick in 2024).
Rourke joined New England last December after being claimed off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars. He served as a backup to Zappe in the latter part of the season.
Throughout his time in the NFL, Rourke has not seen any playing time with either Jacksonville or New England.
A 25-year-old native of Victoria, Rourke earned recognition as the CFL’s top Canadian player in 2022. He achieved this accolade after throwing for 3,349 yards and 25 touchdowns in just 10 regular-season games with the B.C. Lions. However, his season was cut short due to a Lisfranc ligament sprain in his right foot.
Should Rourke fail to secure a spot with another NFL team, he would become a free agent in the CFL.