South Atlanta News

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons made roster changes on Wednesday by signing quarterback Nathan Rourke and releasing John Paddock. The team also announced the signing of tight end Jordan Thomas and the release of wide receiver Daylen Baldwin.

Rourke, who was with the New York Giants during the first week of training camp, was released last Sunday. His brief NFL career includes stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New England Patriots since entering the league in 2023. Rourke has been elevated from practice squads but has yet to play in a live game.

From 2021-22, Rourke played for the Canadian Football League's BC Lions. In 2022, he was named the Most Outstanding Canadian, becoming just the third quarterback to win this award given to the best Canadian player in the league. According to the Lions' website, Rourke completed 255 of his 324 pass attempts for 3,349 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions that season.

Paddock signed with the Falcons as an undrafted free agent from the University of Illinois in April.

Thomas is a former sixth-round draft pick who joined the NFL in 2018 with the Houston Texans. His rookie season was his most productive with 20 receptions for 215 yards and four touchdowns. However, his playing time significantly dropped off after that year; he appeared in no more than six games in any subsequent season.

Thomas hasn't played since 2020 when he was with the New England Patriots. He was most recently part of the Carolina Panthers' practice squad in 2023 and spent this past offseason with the Birmingham Stallions.

Baldwin joined the Falcons in May as an undrafted free agent from the University of Michigan. Initially given an opportunity by the Cleveland Browns in 2022, he appeared in one game as a rookie and made two catches for 25 yards.

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