Louis Rees-Zammit has signed for the Jacksonville Jaguars as his search for a regular opportunity in the NFL continues to build. After initially signing up for the reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs, the Welsh rugby star couldn’t find a place in the 53-man roster after spending the pre-season with them.
Louis Rees-Zammit left rugby to pursue his NFL dream and it seems he needs to brush up his skills in order to earn a place in the regular roster. He will join the Jaguars’ practice squad and if everything goes right he could travel to London as the Jaguars are scheduled to face the Chicago Bears at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 13 followed by a NFL match against New England Patriots at Wembley Stadium on October 20.
He carried six times for 22 yards and caught one pass for 3 yards in the preseason. He was a part of the NFL's international program along with fifteen other athletes from eight different nations. The prospects received a crash lesson in practising football fundamentals and learning the nuances of a game most have never played during their ten weeks of training at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid explained the reason they chose not to retain his services. "I tried to give him the ball a little bit tonight. He had some real positive yards.
"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."
NFL teams get an extra place in their practice roster for an international player.