NY Jets should consider giving Jaguars QB Nathan Rourke the chance he deserves

The New York Jets lost Aaron Rodgers for the season when he suffered an Achilles injury at Metlife Stadium in the season opener. Head coach Robert Saleh didn't waste time and has already named Zach Wilson the starter moving forward. However, the Jets could use some depth at quarterback, which is why they should consider giving the Jacksonville Jaguars a call and inquire about Nathan Rourke.

The Jets have already started looking at their options following the news that Rodgers will miss the remainder of the season. They've already got in touch with former Kansas City Chiefs backup Chad Henne, who retired earlier this year, to see if he would like back in the NFL. This pairing kind of makes sense when you take into account that offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett knows Henne dating back to his days with the Black and Teal.

Other alternatives include Nick Foles, Carson Wentz, and *checks notes twice * Tim Tebow. Similarly, Colin Kaepernick, who's been out of the league since 2017 reached out to New York to let them know he would be interested in joining them. Simply, the quarterback landscape isn't particularly enticing. Thus, it makes sense that the Jets are rolling with Zach Wilson, who was benched last season.

Wilson, the second overall pick in the 2021 draft, has the skillset to play at a high level but seemed to lack the mental fortitude to deal with the rigors of the NFL. Following a subpar performance against the New England Patriots last year, he failed to take accountability, which rubbed his teammates the wrong way.

It's possible that Wilson has had enough time to reflect and will fare much better now this time around. However, there's an equal chance he's simply the player several analysts thought he was coming out of BYU. For this reason, the Jets must have a fallback in case the former Cougar falters.

Acquiring Nathan Rourke from the Jaguars would give the NY Jets options at QB

After spending two seasons with the B.C. Lions in the CFL, Nathan Rourke caught the attention of several NFL teams. In the end, he signed with the Jaguars. The British Columbia native made most of his chances in the preseason, going 23-of-25 for 348 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in three games.

Moreover, he broke the internet and even got Patrick Mahomes' attention when he avoided the Dallas Cowboys' pass rush in Week 1 to find running back Qadree Ollison for a touchdown reception.

Ultimately, Rourke's heroics weren't enough to secure a roster spot with the Jaguars in 2023. After clearing waivers, he signed to their practice squad. This doesn't come as a surprise when you take into account that Trevor Lawrence is firmly entrenched as the starter and C.J. Beathard is a dependable No. 2. Simply, there was no room for Rourke in the Jaguars' quarterback room but he most definitely deserves a chance and the Jets should consider giving it to him.

Rourke had the chance to see first-hand how Lawrence prepares and he could help Zach Wilson get ready for game day. Although he's already got a mentor in Aaron Rodgers, Rourke would add another voice to New York's quarterback group. Similarly, if Wilson goes down or is underwhelming, Rourke could fill in for him and get the chance he's been craving.

The bottom line is that the Jets need depth at the quarterback position and should leave no stone unturned when looking at all their options. This means they should give the Jaguars a call about Nathan Rourke.

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