The Bucs worked out eight players at the team facility, including Canadian Football League star quarterback Nathan Rourke, according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson.

In his first year as starter this season, Rourke passed for 3,349 yards with 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 regular-season games for British Columbia. Rourke also proved to be a dual threat, rushing 304 yards with seven touchdowns.

B.C. QB Nathan Rourke – Photo by: USA Today

The 6-foot-2, 209-pound Rourke suffered a foot injury that required surgery in mid-August and missed eight games, but he returned for the final game of the regular season. The B.C. Lions (12-6) made the playoffs for the first time since 2018 and beat the Calgary Stampeders, 30-16, in the west semifinal before falling 28-20 to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the west final on Sunday.

Rourke played collegiately at Ohio where he completed 58.7% of his passes for 7,457 yards with 60 touchdowns and 20 interceptions as a three-year starter. He’s viewed as a backup quarterback or a No. 3 QB in the league by NFL evaluators. Rourke, who is a Canadian and won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian Award this year, is expected to meet with other NFL teams, and met with the Colts on Monday.

Kyle Trask, the Bucs’ 2021 second-round pick, is the only quarterback under contract next year. Bucs veterans Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Griffin are all slated to be free agents in 2023.

Bucs Worked Out 7 Other Players

The Bucs also worked out wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker, running back Aaron Shampklin, outside linebackers Hamilcar Rashed, Wyatt Ray, Azur Kamara and Elijah Ponder, and tight end Dominique Dafney. Ponder spent last year on the practice squad and went to training camp and the preseason with the Bucs this past August.

The Bucs waived inside linebacker Olakunle Fatukasi, creating an open roster spot. It is expected that rookie receiver/return specialist Deven Thompkins might be signed from the practice squad to the active roster to fill that vacancy.