Star quarterback Nathan Rourke returns to B.C. Lions after NFL stint

Rourke is back in Vancouver with a multi-year contract and will be an integral part of the B. C. Lions’ future.

For now, those plans also include Vernon Adams Jr. , the quarterback who until recently had flourished in the absence of Rourke.

Tuesday the Lions released that Rourke the Ottawa native, who produced a stellar 2022 season with the CFL earning the league’s top Canadian honors signed with the team for three years after playing two seasons in NFL. ]

However, the Lions head coach and co-general manager, Rick Campbell, told that Adams will still be a key player of the team.

If that does, in fact, generate a quarterback battle in the future, then that is a bridge the Lions will have to cross when they come to it. But for now, Campbell told ESPN, having two star quarterbacks is “a nice problem to have.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday Campbell said: ‘For this to happen with Nathan, part of that package for me was that Vernon stays’.

“No. 1 like I said, he is a great quarterback; number 2 he is very big asset to the team and so we tried to work things out so that both of them can be here. ”

Campbell stated the scenario with Rourke unfolded within a short span, and he said he informed Adams of the signing before briefing any of his coaches.

“It feels like there is a bit of an odd mix of feelings there, but absolutely no doubt that it is excitement for the B. C. Lions and you do not get to see such calibre of two quarterbacks very often. ”

Rourke is expected to take starters snaps in practice on Wednesday, when he will be available to the media to answer questions on his return. If everything goes according to plan Wally will get the nod for the start of next Sunday when Winnipeg Blue Bombers come face to face with the Lions at the BC place.

Well knowing Nathan Rourke he will be playing on Sunday so just to ensure that he has the playbook right with him and all other things we need to ensure that those boxes are checked than he will be the guy on Sunday.

Rourke’s return could not have come at a better time for the Lions (5-4): After a three-game losing streak, and Adams out of the game for at least another week because of a right knee injury. The team is eager to turn the fortunes around soon with the 2024 Grey Cup scheduled for B. C. Place on November 17.

Adams will not be able to play in Sunday’s match but Campbell said he is almost ready to play again.

Rourke and Adams have a history together, and the latter had stepped in well to replace Rourke during his season-ending foot fracture in Week 11 of the 2022 campaign.

The 26-year-old Rourke, from Victoria, piped the 78. He completed 7 per cent of his passes for 3,349 yards and 25 touchdowns in the first 10 regular-season contests in his first season with the injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He also rushed for 304 yards and 7 TDs.

This season Rourke decided to play south of the border, and after a trial with several NFL teams he was unable to make a regular season roster.

Originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he was waived by them in December 2022 and picked up by the New England Patriots as a practice squad player who suited up as an inactive player for one game.

New England tried Rourke last year but failed and he remained a free agent until the Patriots re-signed him in march this year for one year. But they cut him in May and Rourke returned home after having brief trials with the New York Giants and the Falcons.

The Lions went on to excel with Adams under the centre after Rourke’s exit from the game. He guided B. C. to a 12-6 record in 2023 and has scored heavily at the start of this season that saw the Lions post a 5-1 start. Through seven games of the season, Jones led the league in passing with 2,395 yards.

However the Lions have been on a three game losing streak and Adams did not play in the Lions 25-0 defeat to Winnipeg on August 1, due to a right knee injury.

Jake Dolegala was the Lions’ quarterback in a 33-16 loss at Edmonton on Sunday. That was the first an Elks had managed a home victory since September 9, 2023.

“I know we have to play much better than we have the past three weeks, and I think our players also realize that our coaches know that,” he said.

‘If we want to be a team that does well down the stretch, regardless of who our quarterback is we’ve got to play better, and we’re working on that. ’