Louis Rees-Zammit’s NFL dream thrown a lifeline after Kansas City Chiefs rejection – report

Colin Newboult
Louis Rees-Zammit meets the Kansas City Chiefs fans.

Louis Rees-Zammit meets the Kansas City Chiefs fans.

Louis Rees-Zammit is expected to continue his American football career but it will be away from the Kansas City Chiefs, according to reports.

The 23-year-old decided to quit rugby in January and pursue his NFL “dream”, which came closer to being realised when he signed a deal with the defending Super Bowl champions.

Joining a squad that included superstars such as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, it was an incredible opportunity for Rees-Zammit.

He played in three pre-season matches against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears, but the speedster did not do enough to get on their 53-man roster.

Released by the Chiefs

The Welshman was subsequently cut on Tuesday, allowing other teams to come in for him on the ‘waiver wire’, which gives franchises 24 hours to stake a claim for players who have been released.

Usually, sides will use the waiver wire to put players on their roster, either by filling up a space which has been left or by creating one.

Jacksonville, one of the teams Rees-Zammit faced in pre-season, appear to have used that opportunity to snap up the former Wales star, according to reports.

The deal has yet to be confirmed, however, and it is unclear what it entails; whether he joins their main 53 or links up with the practice squad, although the latter is considered the more likely.

Rees-Zammit was initially expected to join the Chiefs’ practice squad if he was cut, despite not being granted an exemption given to NFL international pathway players.

A practice squad is reserved for 16 players but franchises can be handed a 17th spot if they have someone from the IPP on their books.

For Kansas, Nigerian offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick has taken up that slot, therefore reducing Rees-Zammit’s chances of staying at the Chiefs.

Louis Rees-Zammit: What next for the Welshman after failing to make NFL grade at Kansas City Chiefs?

The Chiefs could have simply decided that the Welshman was not a project worth pursuing having watched him in training and during matches, and that argument would be given credence should he join the Jacksonville practice squad.

However, if the Jaguars have indeed offered him a roster spot then it is an opportunity the former rugby wing could not turn down and gives him a clear avenue to fulfil his NFL ambitions.

Equally, it may simply be a personal choice from Rees-Zammit, who would prefer to give it a go back in Florida, where his 10-week training camp took place.

How he fared in Kansas

Although the Chiefs were circumspect on Rees-Zammit’s progress, they continually praised his natural athleticism and dedication.

They utilised him in a number of roles, including punter, kick-off return, running back and wide receiver, but he had little game time during pre-season which suggested the writing was on the wall.

The 23-year-old did feature more in the final encounter against the Bears where he produced his best performance and hinted that he could make it in the NFL given time.

“I tried to give him the ball a little bit tonight. He had some real positive yards,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after the Chicago loss. “That’ll be good for him to see and study himself on that, in live action like that.

“He’s a heck of an athlete. It’s just a matter of getting more familiar with it as he goes here. We’ll see how everything works out for him.”

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