NFL nonetheless buzzing two days after Nathan Rourke’s superb TD throw

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Nathan Rourke turned heads and our bodies on Saturday evening.

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Two days later, the ex-B. C. Lions quarterback was nonetheless turning heads, his sensational effort to throw for a landing throughout a pre-season recreation for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars retaining the league buzzing.

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Rourke escaped three totally different sack makes an attempt by Dallas Cowboys defenders, earlier than throwing a bullet — with defensive finish Ben Banogu’s arms wrapped across the quarterback’s waist — to Qadree Ollison for a 21-yard main.

The NFL Community’s Jason McCourty referred to as the play the spotlight of the week.

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“I don’t know the way he’s in a position to make this many individuals miss and nonetheless throw … a landing,” McCourty declared on Good Morning Soccer, additionally paying attention to how the clip was proven on the massive display at B.C. Place throughout Saturday’s 37-9 trouncing of the Calgary Stampeders by the Lions.

“His previous teammates are on the sidelines going loopy, blissful for his or her man making a play.”

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Many in contrast Rourke’s elusiveness on the play to efforts that Patrick Mahomes has made routine.

And Mahomes himself weighed in on X platform, previously often called Twitter, exclaiming: “That was nasty!!!”

“There was nothing fluky about Rourke’s play, given the elusiveness and escapability it required and the composure it took to seek out the open receiver on the fly and hit him with a superbly thrown ball — all whereas being taken to the bottom from behind,” TSN’s Dave Naylor declared on Sunday.

“To place it bluntly, you may’t low cost that type of means, pre-season or not.”

Jacksonville In the present day made Rourke their lead story on their web site Monday morning.

“It was an escape job worthy of Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson or, dare I say it, Gardner Minshew,” Cole Pepper wrote, evaluating Rourke to a former Jacksonville QB who eluded a trio of Denver defenders in a 2019 common season recreation earlier than making a brief completion for a TD.

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Rourke’s play might have been in pre-season, however his effort was tougher than even Minshew’s, because the Cowboys’ go rushers really all acquired their fingers on him, versus Minshew, who largely had house to facet step his opponents.

Fox Sports activities’ Ryan Morik in contrast the play to Eli Manning’s effort earlier than David Tyree’s “Helmet Catch” in Tremendous Bowl XLII.

Rourke’s toss stood up because the successful rating, and got here one drive after the 25-year-old Canadian had scrambled 4 yards for a speeding landing of his personal.

“It’s a little bit of a blur,” Rourke mentioned after the sport. “I simply knew I wanted to have a little bit little bit of time, to purchase a while. It was an extended route. We had to purchase a while to in a position to get a completion after which had to purchase a while within the pocket. Qadree did a extremely good job with the scramble guidelines and I simply tried to offer him an opportunity. I’m glad it labored out.”

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With Rourke sitting because the No. 3 in Jacksonville, behind celebrity Trevor Lawrence and veteran backup C.J. Beathard, an effort like Saturday’s, the place Rourke was 9-of-17 for 153 yards and 6 carries for 20 yards, will draw discover across the league.

If Rourke, who signed a futures take care of Jacksonville in January, is assigned to the Jag’s follow squad, any group within the league might choose him up. Rourke mentioned as many as a dozen NFL groups expressed curiosity in signing him final winter, so the 2022 CFL Most Excellent Participant touchdown with one other NFL squad wouldn’t be a shock.

“It was fairly unimaginable,” Jags head coach Doug Pederson advised reporters about Rourke’s efforts after the sport. “Toughness and poise within the pocket, having the ability to make a play like that and have a few guys on him to make that throw for the landing. I haven’t seen too many performs like that, even in a pre-season recreation. So, hats off to him. He did a pleasant job main that group within the second half and was in a position to put us ultimately zone. Then he had the landing run too, so had a extremely good second half.”

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Lions head coach Rick Campbell was targeted on his group’s efforts on the B.C. Place turf when he overheard somebody on the sideline exclaim “holy s—! Did you see that?”

“After which I really caught it the second time,” Campbell mentioned. “Don’t ever wager in opposition to that man. He’s not gonna again down from any problem, and we’re all rooting for him. I hope the NFL is wise sufficient to maintain him round.”

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