Latest news with #JacksonFindlay
National Post
04-07-2025
- Sport
- National Post
B.C. Lions get their QB back, with Nathan Rourke set to start Saturday
B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke had a stunt double for a portion of his media availability on Thursday. Article content As a gag, the Lions had rookie defensive back Jackson Findlay, who bears a resemblance to Rourke, pull on the quarterback's No. 12 jersey after practice, step in front of the microphones and answer a few questions as the pivot. The media were all in on the joke and played along. Article content Article content Article content These are happy times with the Lions in large part because Rourke didn't have to share his other duties at practice. He took all the first team repetitions Thursday and head coach Buck Pierce says that Rourke, who missed the past two games with an oblique injury, will start Saturday (4 p.m.) when B.C. (1-3) visits the Montreal Alouettes (3-1). Article content This upcoming lineup, with Rourke back as the centrepiece, is closer to what the Lions envisioned when they put this team together in the off-season. Of course, whether Findlay will pitch in during the post-game scrums going forward for Rourke remains to be seen. Article content 'He's looked good all week. He's responded better each and every day,' Pierce said of Rourke, the 27-year-old passer who was born in Victoria and raised in Oakville, Ont. Article content 'The mistakes from the previous weeks we've used as fuel for learning lessons and hopefully it's making us stronger. Obviously, having Nathan out there, with his operation and what he does … I think it looks like it should right now.' Article content Rourke had thrown the ball deeper every practice this week. Pierce said Thursday that he didn't believe that there would be any limitations for Rourke Saturday, explaining that 'I think he's feeling good right now.' Article content The B.C. offence looked crisp in the 31-14 season-opening win over the Edmonton Elks on June 7, going for 446 yards of net offence. That included 324 yards of passing from Rourke, who was 27-of-36 on the night with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Article content Article content Rourke was injured in the fourth quarter of a 34-20 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on June 12. Jeremiah Masoli, who was added in the off-season as a free agent, got the start at quarterback in the 27-14 defeat to Winnipeg on June 21 and a 37-18 setback to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last Saturday. Article content After four weeks, B.C. is second in the nine-team CFL in net offence (377.8 yards per game) but just eighth in points (20.8 per game). Article content 'I feel good,' Rourke said Thursday after taking over the media proceedings from Findlay. 'The goal has always been to play. That was the goal last week as well … just did a little too much too soon. Hopefully we're not at that point this time around.'
The Province
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Province
B.C. Lions get their quarterback back, with Nathan Rourke set to start Saturday
Spirits were good Thursday, with rookie DB Jackson Findlay pinch hitting for Rourke in a media scrum for a time Get the latest from Steve Ewen straight to your inbox Quarterback Nathan Rourke is slated to be back leading the B.C. Lions on Saturday. Photo by Brian Johnson B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke had a stunt double for a portion of his media availability on Thursday. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors As a gag, the Lions had rookie defensive back Jackson Findlay, who bears a resemblance to Rourke, pull on the quarterback's No. 12 jersey after practice, step in front of the microphones and answer a few questions as the pivot. The media were all in on the joke and played along. These are happy times with the Lions in large part because Rourke didn't have to share his other duties at practice. He took all the first team repetitions Thursday and head coach Buck Pierce says that Rourke, who missed the past two games with an oblique injury, will start Saturday (4 p.m.) when B.C. (1-3) visits the Montreal Alouettes (3-1). This upcoming lineup, with Rourke back as the centrepiece, is closer to what the Lions envisioned when they put this team together in the off-season. Of course, whether Findlay will pitch in during the post-game scrums going forward for Rourke remains to be seen. 'He's looked good all week. He's responded better each and every day,' Pierce said of Rourke, the 27-year-old passer who was born in Victoria and raised in Oakville, Ont. 'The mistakes from the previous weeks we've used as fuel for learning lessons and hopefully it's making us stronger. Obviously, having Nathan out there, with his operation and what he does … I think it looks like it should right now.' Rourke had thrown the ball deeper every practice this week. Pierce said Thursday that he didn't believe that there would be any limitations for Rourke Saturday, explaining that 'I think he's feeling good right now.' Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The B.C. offence looked crisp in the 31-14 season-opening win over the Edmonton Elks on June 7, going for 446 yards of net offence. That included 324 yards of passing from Rourke, who was 27-of-36 on the night with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Rourke was injured in the fourth quarter of a 34-20 loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on June 12. Jeremiah Masoli, who was added in the off-season as a free agent, got the start at quarterback in the 27-14 defeat to Winnipeg on June 21 and a 37-18 setback to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last Saturday. After four weeks, B.C. is second in the nine-team CFL in net offence (377.8 yards per game) but just eighth in points (20.8 per game). 'I feel good,' Rourke said Thursday after taking over the media proceedings from Findlay. 'The goal has always been to play. That was the goal last week as well … just did a little too much too soon. Hopefully we're not at that point this time around.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Asked about whether he thinks he'll have any limitations, Rourke replied: 'It's hard to say. We're just trying to be cautious within the day. It's all about Saturday.' Rourke isn't the only notable returnee to action this week with the Lions. Linebacker Josh Woods (knee surgery), who hasn't played since getting hurt in a June 27, 2024 game against Edmonton, is slated to see duty versus the Alouettes. Woods admits that the Lions are trying to 'ease,' him back in right now, and he'll be used in certain situations Saturday. Woods was a key cog in the B.C. defence before all this. Woods, 27, registered 45 tackles in 18 games with the Lions in 2023. He was off to strong start last season, with 21 tackles through three games. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. He missed what was supposed to be his senior season with UCLA with a knee surgery, so he has been down this road before. 'This process has been different than the last one. I would say I'm more confident this time around,' Woods said. 'One, because I've been through it. But, two, because of the way we talked to doctors and how the operation was a little different. The process was a little bit smoother. 'There's still been highs and lows with it. There's also been different obstacles than I had to face this time compared to last time.' Woods admits that sitting on the sidelines has been 'killing me since last year.' 'Last year we made such a push to try to get to the Grey Cup,' the 6-foot-2, 234-pound Woods said. 'We started so strong. So it wrecked me to miss last year. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'This year, I didn't know exactly what the timeline was going to be for me. Watching every week, not being with the team, just kills me, because I want to help in any way possible. I want to just be with the guys through the ups and downs. I'm just excited to be back.' Pierce added: 'He's been working extremely hard to get back. Those situations are never easy. I'm just happy for him as a person and excited to watch him play. And I think his teammates are excited for him, too.' B.C. is last in the league against the rush (140.5 yards against per game). @SteveEwen SEwen@ Read More Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Whitecaps Opinion News Vancouver Canucks
National Post
01-05-2025
- Sport
- National Post
Big brother's watching? What Nathan Rourke says about sibling getting crack at NFL
Article content The B.C. Lions selecting Nathan Rourke's younger brother in the CFL Draft would have been a fun little story but it wasn't likely to ever happen. Article content Article content Kurtis Rourke is a quarterback, too, and the Leos believe they're set at pivot for years to come with Nathan, 26. They're building this team around him. Article content As well, the league took away a first- and second-round selection from B.C. for being over the salary cap last season, and the Lions opted to use what draft pick capital they had Tuesday on more pressing needs. Article content Article content Kurtis, 24, was expected to be a mid-range, wait and see selection, since the San Francisco 49ers had taken the Indiana Hoosiers' QB in the seventh round of last week's NFL Draft. Sure enough, he went in the third round (No. 25 overall) to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Article content The Lions had traded selections Nos. 19 and 29 earlier in the day to the Toronto Argonauts to get No. 16 and used it on Western Mustangs defensive back and Vancouver College Fighting Irish alum Jackson Findlay. They didn't pick again until they took Regina Rams offensive lineman Connor Klassen at No. 37. Article content The Lions begin training camp with the rookies next Wednesday in Kamloops, and then the main camp starting there Sunday. Their season-opener is June 7, hosting the Edmonton Elks at B.C. Place. Article content 'We would have considered it,' Lions general manager Ryan Rigmaiden said of drafting the younger Rourke, 'but we knew that when we made the trade to move up and pick Jackson Findlay that he'd probably be gone by the time we were drafting in the later rounds and sure enough he was.' Article content How is a draft day trade executed in the CFL? #BCLions General Manager Ryan Rigmaiden pulled off a last-minute deal with Toronto to move up three spots in the 2025 Draft and select local product, defensive back Jackson Findlay, out of Western University. #ArrowUp #CFLDraft — BC LIONS (@BCLions) May 1, 2025 Article content Article content Kurtis Rourke is the first Canadian quarterback drafted in the NFL since Jesse Palmer in 2001. The Oakville, Ont., product led Indiana to an 11-2 season, throwing for 3,042 yards and a school-record 29 touchdowns. He's currently rehabbing from anterior cruciate ligament tear surgery. There are reports that he played through the injury all season. Article content Article content He is expected to be ready for 49ers training camp in July. Article content 'We … believe that he's going to be in the NFL for a long time,' Rigmaiden said. 'There's the traits that he has — the character and work ethic — plus where he's going. San Francisco is such a perfect fit for him, with how creative they are and how they tailor the offence to what their quarterback does well.' Article content Rourke checks several boxes that the NFL seems to have for quarterbacks, including the fact that he's 6-foot-5 and 223 pounds. Nathan is 6-foot-1 and 209 pounds, and it's easy to wonder if that wasn't part of what played against him in his NFL pursuits. Article content The story has been well told in these parts. Nathan missed half of B.C.'s season in 2022 with a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot, but performed so well in 10 games (threw for 3,349 yards and 25 majors, ran for seven TDs) that he received several free-agent workouts with NFL clubs before eventually signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was never able to get any real traction there, and the same went for stints with the New England Patriots, New York Giants and the Atlanta Falcons. He returned to the B.C. Lions last August.
Globe and Mail
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Globe and Mail
Western star Findlay to pursue CFL career before pursuing medical school
Jackson Findlay can see medical school in his future, but he's looking forward to concentrating on football first. The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Western Ontario safety will command much attention at the CFL combine, which begins Friday in Regina. The All-Canadian and 2024 President's Trophy finalist ended last season ranked No. 8 among the top-20 prospects for the league's draft April 29. 'I plan on doing both at some point but fully committing to one or the other,' he said. '[Being a pediatric oncologist treating cancer in children] is definitely a goal of mine whenever I choose to stop playing football, which I don't think is anytime soon.' Findlay certainly has a CFL future following a stellar career at Western. Over 41 career games, the native of North Vancouver, B.C., registered 182 tackles (97 solo, 6.5 for loss), four sacks, eight interceptions, a forced fumble and fumble recovery. Findlay comes by his football prowess honestly. His great-grandfather, grandfather, uncle and father all played in the CFL. 'I was never forced into football, it's something that came naturally to me, maybe it was a Findlay thing,' he said. 'It's been incredible the amount of support I've got from my family and having it as a heritage thing. 'Something that's in our blood just makes it much more special and important to me to commit myself to this.' But Findlay is much more than just a stellar football player. The medical sciences student has been on the Dean's List at Western and was named among U Sports top-8 academic all-Canadians for 2024-25. 'It's definitely a big commitment [combining football with school] and I like to pride myself for my academics,' he said. 'That's always been a big thing instilled into me. 'It's definitely not easy, especially in season, but I try to put my full effort into all I do and when I have down time use that to the full potential.' Findlay also finds time to volunteer as president of Western's athletic student council while also working as a coach with the women's flag football team. 'I'd say a typical week for me from Monday to Saturday is pretty full,' Findlay said. 'Sunday is a big study day for me, a bit of Monday as well. 'I do count my game days as days off. I try not to open my laptop on those days, after the games just take it easy. But I'm super excited to play football without having to juggle academics and all of that stuff.' Findlay isn't the first football player to also have aspirations for the medical field. Canadian quarterback Andrew Buckley retired in '18, three years after being drafted by the Calgary Stampeders following his acceptance into medical school. Former Seattle Seahawks long-snapper J.P. Darche, now a Kansas City Chiefs team physician, put his studies on hold for 10 years to continue playing football, while Laurent Duvernay-Tardif balanced medical school with being an offensive lineman with Kansas City before graduating from McGill's Faculty of Medicine in May 2018 with a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery. While Findlay will be among the top CFL draft prospects in Regina, he'll be competing against just one player. Himself. 'A big thing for me going into this is getting personal bests for a lot of the stuff I'm doing,' he said. 'Combine-wise, being happy with my numbers. 'It's me versus me and I think that also translates to the practices and one-on-ones, just doing the best I can and being content with that.' CFL officials will also have the chance to meet Findlay and speak directly to him. 'I've been prepping for those [interviews],' he said. 'That's something I want to come into with confidence. 'I want to be able to show teams I'm ready step into the professional scene and make an impact right away.' With plans to earn his undergraduate degree later this year, Findlay said that will free him up to concentrate solely on football. He has no preference regarding which team he'd like to hear call his name in April. 'I'd love to play as a professional athlete, whether that be in the middle of nowhere or a big city, somewhere I am comfortable with or not,' he said. 'I came to Western with the same kind of mindset where I wasn't coming here to love being in London, I was coming to play for this team and get the academic experience. 'Obviously I've grown up with the B.C. Lions and that would be a big full-circle moment while both my dad and uncle played for Saskatchewan as well. But I'm just excited to see where I end up and I think anywhere would be a great fit for me.'
