Canadians in the NFL

**ArgoRavi** · 09-02-2023, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by jerrym

The Bills have added DT Eli Ankou who has bounced around the NFL with a number of teams since signing as an undrafted free agent by Houston in 2017. He has played in 33 games with 3 starts.

Ankou was actually added to the practice roster which raised my eyebrows a little, as he has been in the NFL since 2017. It was pointed out to me that the NFL changed the rules around PR eligibility a couple of years ago which allows a veteran such as Ankou to be put on the PR.

**jerrym** · 09-02-2023, 03:53 PM

2021 third round Argo draft pick rush end Luiji Vilain has re-signed with Minnesota and been put on their PR. Last year he had four tackles during three regular season games.

**jerrym** · 09-02-2023, 04:01 PM

Canadian CB Tevaughn Campbell has been placed on the Jaguars PR. After playing with the Stamps, Riders and Als from 2015-2018, he played 30 games with the Chargers in 2019-21 with 11 starts, but was waived last year after a TC injury and ended up on the Raiders PR.

**jerrym** · 09-02-2023, 04:06 PM

Canadian twins RB Chase Brown and safety Sydney Brown made the Bengals and Eagles 53 man rosters respectively. Chase won the Jon Cornish trophy last year as the top Canadian in the NCAA.

https://3downnation.com/2023/08/30/c...engals-eagles/

**jerrym** · 09-14-2023, 07:34 PM

LA Rams have promoted Canadian-American QB Brett Rypien to their active roster.

https://3downnation.com/2023/09/14/l...active-roster/

**ArgoGabe22** · 10-18-2023, 01:47 PM

Nathan Rourke signing onto the roster with Lawrence’s injury

**ArgoRavi** · 10-20-2023, 12:07 AM

Originally Posted by ArgoGabe22

Nathan Rourke signing onto the roster with Lawrence’s injury

It appears that he didn't dress for the game so I am unsure what the hubbub was all about. I am guessing that Rourke will head back to the PR when the Jaguars determine that Lawrence's knee is no longer a risk for them. Anyway, I guess this was more fodder for discussion on 3downnation.com.

**jerrym** · 10-22-2023, 05:47 PM

Originally Posted by ArgoRavi

It appears that he didn't dress for the game so I am unsure what the hubbub was all about. I am guessing that Rourke will head back to the PR when the Jaguars determine that Lawrence's knee is no longer a risk for them. Anyway, I guess this was more fodder for discussion on 3downnation.com.

Before going back on the PR, Rourke must clear waivers and could be claimed by another NFL team, so it is possible that he might be picked up by another team that would use him more.

https://3downnation.com/2023/10/21/j...nathan-rourke/

**ArgoRavi** · 10-22-2023, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by jerrym

Before going back on the PR, Rourke must clear waivers and could be claimed by another NFL team, so it is possible that he might be picked up by another team that would use him more.

https://3downnation.com/2023/10/21/j...nathan-rourke/

Like the CFL, any NFL team has the opportunity to sign Rourke off of a practice roster as well, as long as they put him on their active roster.

I have said this before but the likes of Naylor, Lalji and 3downnation.com have oversold just how much NFL interest there has been in Rourke.

**OV Argo** · 10-24-2023, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by ArgoRavi

Like the CFL, any NFL team has the opportunity to sign Rourke off of a practice roster as well, as long as they put him on their active roster.

I have said this before but the likes of Naylor, Lalji and 3downnation.com have oversold just how much NFL interest there has been in Rourke.

Agreed Ravi - very little real interest there; good for Nathan for getting to sign somewhere down there (and on a good team, with coaches & QB room to learn from); he might progress to #2 there even soon, but there are a whole bunch of other NFL teams who had way more QB need than the Jags and they turned their noses up at Rourke and still do. Naylor & Lalji types either don't grasp this or don't want to admit it.

**OV Argo** · 10-25-2023, 07:24 PM

Argo draft pick Luiji Villain claimed by the Panthers off the Vikings PR.

I was hoping he might run out of NFL chances and sign with the Argos (by next season even), but I don't hold out much hope there.

**ArgoRavi** · 10-29-2023, 02:58 AM

If the market was as hot for Rourke as Naylor, Lalji, and 3downnation.com suggested it was, surely some other NFL team would have either claimed him off waivers by now or plucked him off Jacksonville's practice roster.

**AngeloV** · 10-29-2023, 11:20 PM

Originally Posted by ArgoRavi

If the market was as hot for Rourke as Naylor, Lalji, and 3downnation.com suggested it was, surely some other NFL team would have either claimed him off waivers by now or plucked him off Jacksonville's practice roster.

I'm sure NFL teams have some sort of agreement not to touch PR players from other teams. I know you REALLY want Rourke back in the CFL Ravi, but I don't think it's happening.

**OV Argo** · 10-29-2023, 11:59 PM

Undrafted FA rookie - Tyson Bagent (out of Div II ball) - started at QB for the Bears today.

Undrafted journeyman PJ Walker has been starting for the Browns lately.

If those 2 guys' resumes trump what Rourke did in the CFL last season, I don't know what to say about some NFL QB "scouting".

Rourke ended up on a team with a proven young star QB and a vet back-up.

IF there was any real NFL interest, he would have been signed elsewhere earlier, or, snapped up off the PR or waivers by now.

**ArgoRavi** · 10-30-2023, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by OV Argo

Undrafted FA rookie - Tyson Bagent (out of Div II ball) - started at QB for the Bears today.

Undrafted journeyman PJ Walker has been starting for the Browns lately.

If those 2 guys' resumes trump what Rourke did in the CFL last season, I don't know what to say about some NFL QB "scouting".

Rourke ended up on a team with a proven young star QB and a vet back-up.

IF there was any real NFL interest, he would have been signed elsewhere earlier, or, snapped up off the PR or waivers by now.

You and me may be out on an island on this one, OV. And, yes AV, I absolutely want Rourke back in the CFL rather than him not playing in the NFL.

**AngeloV** · 10-30-2023, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by ArgoRavi

You and me may be out on an island on this one, OV. And, yes AV, I absolutely want Rourke back in the CFL rather than him not playing in the NFL.

I get that. I would love to see him in the CFL too, but it's his dream, not ours. I predict he will be down there at least 2 more years.

**kellynjk** · 10-30-2023, 06:31 PM

Well as you say if it's Rourke's dream to play in the NFL, you can't blame him for giving it a few years to see if he can get some real playing time in the NFL, but like others I would love to see him return to the CFL at some point.

**jerrym** · 11-11-2023, 01:16 AM

Here is the list of 18 Canadians in the NFL this year on active rosters.

Matthew Bergeron– The native of Montreal, Quebec is an offensive lineman who was drafted in the second round, 38th overall, by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is expected to start at left guard.

Chase Brown–The native of London, Ontario is a running back who was drafted in the fifth round, 163rd overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is to backup Joe Mixon.

Sydney Brown–The native of London is a free safety who was drafted in the third round, 66th overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2023 NFL Draft. He is to backup Reed Blankenship.

Chase Claypool–The wide receiver from Abbotsford, British Columbia was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Chicago Bears on November 1. Last season with the Bears and Steelers, he had 46 catches for 451 receiving yards and one touchdown. The major score came in a 20-18 Steelers win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 16. Claypool is slated to start for Chicago.

Michael Hoecht–The starting linebacker from Oakville, Ontario is with the Los Angeles Rams. Last year he had 36 combined tackles (23 solo tackles and 13 assisted tackles), four tackles for a loss, nine quarterback hits, one forced fumble and 4.5 sacks.

Jevon Holland–The starting free safety from Coquitlam, British Columbia is with the Miami Dolphins. Last year he had 96 combined tackles (77 solo tackles and 19 assisted tackles), one tackle for a loss, one quarterback hit, two interceptions for 64 yards, seven pass deflections, one forced fumble and 1.5 sacks. The interceptions came in a 20-7 Dolphins win over the New England Patriots on September 11 and in a 16-10 Dolphins win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 23. The 1.5 sacks, quarterback hit and forced fumble came in a 21-19 Dolphins win over the Buffalo Bills on September 25.

Chuba Hubbard–The running back from Edmonton, Alberta is with the Carolina Panthers. Last year he had 95 rushes for 466 rushing yards and two touchdown rushes. He also had 14 catches for 171 receiving yards. The rushing touchdowns came in a 21-3 Panthers win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 23, and in a 30-24 Panthers win over the Seattle Seahawks on December 11. Hubbard is behind Miles Sanders on Carolina’s depth chart.

Alaric Jackson–The left tackle from Windsor, Ontario is with the Los Angeles Rams. He has played 12 games with the Rams over the last two seasons and is set to backup Joe Noteboom.

Deane Leonard–The defensive back from Calgary, Alberta is with the Los Angeles Chargers. Last season he had five combined tackles (four solo tackles and one assisted tackle), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. The forced fumble came in a 19-16 Chargers win over the Denver Broncos on October 17, and the assisted tackle came in a 17-14 Chargers win over the Tennessee Titans on December 18. Leonard is to backup J.C. Jackson at cornerback.

Jesse Luketa–The linebacker from Ottawa, Ontario is with the Arizona Cardinals. In his rookie season in 2022, he had three solo tackles and two tackles for a loss. Luketa is behind Dennis Gardeck and Victor Dimukeje on Arizona’s depth chart.

Carter O’Donnell–The offensive left tackle from Red Deer, Alberta is also with the Cardinals. He is to backup D.J. Humphries.

Amen Ogbongbemiga–The linebacker from Calgary is also with the Chargers. Last season he had six tackles (two solo tackles and four assisted tackles). Ogbongbemiga is behind Kenneth Murray Jr. on the Chargers depth chart.

Josh Palmer–The native of Brampton, Ontario is a starting wide receiver for the Chargers. Last season he had 72 catches for 769 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.

Tavius Robinson–The rookie from Guelph, Ontario is a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens. He was selected in the fourth round, 124th overall, by the Ravens in the 2023 NFL Draft. Robinson is backing up Odafe Oweh on the Ravens depth chart.

Nathan Shepherd–The starting left defensive tackle from Ajax, Ontario is with the New Orleans Saints. This past season with the New York Jets, he had 33 combined tackles (16 solo tackles and 17 assisted tackles), four tackles for a loss, six quarterback hits, and 1.5 sacks.

Sidy Sow–The offensive guard from Bromont, Quebec is with the New England Patriots. He is second on the Patriots depth chart behind Calvin Anderson.

Benjamin St-Juste–The starting cornerback from Montreal is with the Washington Commanders. Last season he had 42 combined tackles (34 solo tackles and eight tackles), three quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss, two sacks, one forced fumble and seven pass deflections. The forced fumble came in a 32-21 Commanders upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles on November 14.

Brent Urban–The native of Mississauga, Ontario is with the Baltimore Ravens, and backing up Broderick Washington at defensive end. Last season he had 21 combined tackles (10 solo tackles and 11 assisted tackles), three pass deflections, two tackles for a loss, one quarterback hit, and one sack.

https://canadiansportscene.com/eight...3-nfl-rosters/

**jerrym** · 11-11-2023, 01:20 AM

In Week one, Jevon Holland had an outstanding game.

Miami Dolphins safety and

Coquitlam, B.C., native,

Jevon Holland kicked off Week 1 with one of the top performances among Canadians in the NFL. The 23-year-old led the team with 10 solo tackles and 14 total tackles, including one for a loss, in the Dolphins' dramatic 36-34 win over Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

https://www.tsn.ca/nfl/canadians-in-...gers-1.2005073