Reinforcements: New England Patriots Sign Quarterback, Running Back

The New England Patriots may not be one of the best teams in the NFL, but they continue to be one of the busiest. Just a few hours after losing quarterback Will Grier off their practice squad to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Pats signed Nathan Rourke.

Ironically, Grier (with the Dallas Cowboys) and Rourke (with the Jacksonville Jaguars) played against each other in the preseason. Rourke went 9 of 17 with a touchdown in relief of starer Trevor Lawrence last August, while Grier finished 22 of 31 for 199 and two touchdowns backing up Dallas’ Cooper Rush.

After a career at Ohio University, the Canadian-born Rourke starred in the CFL from 2021-22 before signing a three-year contract with the Jaguars last January. Soon after, however, he underwent foot surgery and was cut in late August during training camp. The Jaguars re-signed him to their practice squad and he has bounced back and forth to the active roster all season.

He was released by Jacksonville Saturday, and the Patriots picked him up via a waiver claim.

After losing Grier and Malik Cunningham in the last week, the Patriots now have three quarterbacks in starter Bailey Zappe, backup and former first-round draft pick Mac Jones, and Rourke. New England gave a tryout last week to Boston College alum E.J. Perry.

In a season in which they have lingered near the bottom of the standings. the Patriots are constantly churning the bottom of their roster.

Also on Tuesday they signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn to their practice squad. He was a third-round draft pick in 2020 and earned a Super Bowl ring in Tom Brady’s firs season in Florida. Vaughn never, forever, earned consistent playing time and he was released last weekend with only 384 rushing yards and three combined touchdowns in four seasons with the Bucs.

With Rhamondre Stevenson still sidelined with an ankle injury, the Patriots used Ezekiel Elliott and Kevin Harris in Sunday’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.