According to sources cited by 3DownNation, the New England Patriots are set to re-sign Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke. This update was initially disclosed by NFL insider Tom Pelissero.

Rourke, who was due to become an exclusive rights free agent on March 13, was subject to a straightforward process for the Patriots to retain him for the 2024 season. They simply needed to offer him a one-year contract at the league minimum salary, totaling $915,000 USD for players with one accrued season.

Last season, the 25-year-old was picked up by New England on December 18 after being waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although he was active for the final three games, he served as the primary backup in the regular-season finale without getting any playing time.

Previously, Rourke joined the Jaguars in the offseason following a series of NFL workouts. During the preseason with Jacksonville, he showcased solid performance, completing 65.7 percent of his passes for 348 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. He also rushed for 39 yards and one touchdown on 14 attempts. Despite being waived after training camp, he remained on the team’s practice roster and was promoted to the active roster twice.

In the 2022 CFL season, Rourke had an impressive stint with the B.C. Lions, completing 78.7 percent of his passes for 3,349 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 regular season games, where he started nine times. Additionally, he rushed for 304 yards and seven touchdowns on 39 carries, earning him the league’s Most Outstanding Canadian award despite missing half the season due to a Lisfranc injury.

The Patriots have experienced significant changes in the offseason, notably parting ways with longtime head coach Bill Belichick following a 4-13 season. Jerod Mayo, brother of former CFL linebacker Deron Mayo, has taken over as the new head coach.