With Trevor Lawrence questionable for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns due to a high ankle sprain, the Jacksonville Jaguars are adding insurance at the quarterback position.
According to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Jaguars have signed Nathan Rourke to their active roster. This will mark the 25-year-old’s second stint on Jacksonville’s active roster after having previously been signed in October before being released and re-signed to the team’s practice squad.
Should Lawrence be unable to play against the Browns, Rourke would presumably serve as the top backup to veteran C.J. Beathard. After Lawrence exited the Jaguars’ matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football with his ankle injury, Beathard finished what was ultimately a 34-31 overtime defeat for Jacksonville.
A two-time second-team All-Mid-American Conference selection at Ohio University, Rourke spent two seasons playing for the BC Lions in the Canadian Football League. In 2022, he was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian after completing 78.7 percent of his passes for 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Despite signing a three-year deal with the Jaguars in January, Rourke has yet to make his NFL regular-season debut as he has moved between Jacksonville’s practice squad and active roster throughout the year. That could change on Sunday, with Lawrence considered a game-time decision for the Week 14 matchup.
