FOXBORO — The Patriots have rifled through No. 3 quarterbacks throughout the past year, but head coach Bill Belichick seems sold on the team’s new third-stringer.
Including Brian Hoyer, who was released in March, the Patriots have had nine quarterbacks on their roster in the past year. Nathan Rourke, who was claimed off waivers from the Jaguars early last week, is Mac Jones’ and Bailey Zappe’s latest backup. He’s spent two weeks of practice with the Patriots now.
“Attentive, smart kid, works hard, gets here early, stays late,” Belichick said of Rourke on Friday. “He’s done a good job on things we’ve asked him to do, hasn’t had a lot of reps, really, in our offense, but he’s had some. Been a good guy to work with, no issues.”
The Patriots had Trace McSorley as their third-string quarterback in training camp, and undrafted rookie Malik Cunningham was also taking reps at QB over the summer. After McSorley was waived in August, the team claimed Matt Corral off waivers. After he left the team without notice, the Patriots signed Ian Book to their practice squad. Book was released and Corral was expected to be brought back to the practice squad, but that never came together. Will Grier was then signed off of the Bengals practice squad. The Patriots cut Grier and signed him back to the practice squad, but he was signed away by the Chargers. That’s when the Patriots claimed Rourke off waivers.
Belichick raved about the job Jedd Fisch, a Patriots assistant during the 2020 season, has done as the University of Arizona’s head coach. Arizona beat Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl on Thursday night. “I’m happy for him. He’s done a tremendous job down there. In every game. What? Lost three games with eight points? They’ll probably be a top-ten team. It’s unbelievable. The program he took over. I forget how many straight they lost. I can’t keep track. Pac-12 games. Guys never won a game. It’s unbelievable. What a year they’ve had. He’s done a great job.” … Belichick also congratulated Boston College and Greg Schiano’s Rutgers team for bowl wins. “While we’re at it, good win for BC, a really good win for Schiano — great job with Rutgers, bowl win. First time in, whatever it was, 10 years? Greg has done a great job there. There’s another team that had pretty little success when he took over, kind of like when Jedd went to Arizona. Coach Schiano has done a great job, really happy for him. He looked good holding that trophy up there.” … The Patriots claimed cornerback Marco Wilson off of waivers Wednesday. Belichick explained what he saw from him to make the move. “Marco had a good career at Florida, good size, runs well. Experienced.”