Tag: Louis Rees-Zammit

Chiefs GM Brett Veach reveals thoughts on cutting Louis Rees-Zammit

Kansas City #Chiefs general manager Brett Veach reveals thoughts on cutting Louis Rees-Zammit | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs parted ways with plenty of prospects due to roster cuts as they reshaped their roster for the 2024 season.

Chiefs general manager Brett Veach spoke with reporters on Thursday via Zoom about the decision to cut former Rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit.

“We kept it open; we wanted the kid to really look at maybe some different opportunities as well. It’s pretty remarkable when you think about a player that doesn’t have any pro-American football experience. No middle school, no high school, no big-time college experience.” said Veach. “We were kind of thinking about it going through camp. Imagine not having any sort of foundational background, just being thrown in and doing one-on-one pass-pros with a Drue Tranquill or a Nick Bolton. I mean, that’s pretty incredible.”

Rees-Zammit played in all three preseason games, showing his versatility in different positions. Veach took notice but potentially didn’t see his development working in time to make the roster.

“Running back, maybe a big slot receiver, I think he does have some potential as a returner. I’m not sure he couldn’t be a kicker,” said Veach. “I mean, he had an outstanding leg, and with this new rule, he can do some different things, provide some versatility.”

Rees-Zammit wasn’t a free agent for long as he landed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Veach believes it has much to do with the international influence.

“I think the Jacksonville thing, and their relationship overseas and what that brings to the table, going overseas twice a year,” said Veach. “I think that was probably something that interested him, phenomenal kid, phenomenal worker, and again, just thinking back on the tremendous amount of progress he made in a short amount of time, I think he’ll continue to grow and develop, and I think he found a really good spot there in Jacksonville.”

Rees-Zammit’s time with the Chiefs was brief, but it was enough for him to land with another team. The Chiefs are building for an immediate three-peat, and the roster is primed with Super Bowl aspirations.

Jaguars complete inaugural 2024 practice squad

Jaguars complete inaugural 2024 practice squad

The Jaguars completed their inaugural 2024 practice squad Thursday, bringing offensive lineman Blake Hance back after releasing him Tuesday, and signing former Chiefs running back Louis Rees-Zammit and former Titans defensive back Matthew Jackson.

A former rugby player for the Wales national team among others, Rees-Zammit fills the Jaguars International Player Pathway program spot, which was vacated by Australian tight end Patrick Murtagh, who is now on Jacksonville’s injured reserve.

Rees-Zammit’s expected signing was reported on Wednesday, following his waiving by Kansas City Tuesday.

Rees-Zammit logged six rushes for 22 yards, one reception for three yards and two kickoff returns with an average of 31.5 yards per return attempt with the Chiefs in his first NFL preseason.

Hance originally joined the Jaguars’ active roster two years ago and appeared in 26 games with the club, including one start last season.

Hance has also played for Buffalo, Washington, Cleveland, San Francisco and the New York Jets, after entering the league as an undrafted free agent with the Bills in 2019.

Another former undrafted free agent, Jackson signed with Tennessee out of college and was one of five non-draft pick rookies to make the Titans’ 53-player roster in 2023, although he spent the second half of the regular season on the practice squad.

Jackson compiled six total tackles with the Titans.

Jacksonville filled its first 14 practice squad spots on Wednesday, signing quarterback E.J. Perry, running back Jalen Jackson, wide receivers Elijah Cooks, Austin Trammell and Joshua Cephus, tight ends Josiah Deguara and Shawn Bowman, offensive lineman Steven Jones, defensive ends D.J. Coleman and Joe Gaziano, linebacker Tanner Muse, cornerbacks Christian Braswell and Tre Flowers, and safety Terrell Edmunds.

Report: Jaguars ‘close’ to signing former rugby star

Report: Jaguars ‘close’ to signing former rugby star

The Jaguars are “close” to signing running back Louis Rees-Zammit, per NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.

ESPN’s Tom Hamilton reported that Rees-Zammit is set to join Jacksonville’s practice squad.

Through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, Rees-Zammit signed with Kansas City in March but was waived during the Chiefs’ Tuesday preseason roster cuts.

Rees-Zammit, a 23-year-old native of Wales, transitioned to American football after starring in rugby as a winger for The Cathedral School — Llandaff, Hartpury College, the professional Gloucester Rugby Union, the Wales national team and the British & Irish Lions.

“I achieved everything I wanted to in rugby,” Rees-Zammit told The Athletic about his journey to the NFL in May, “so I thought now was the perfect time.”

Standing at 6-foot-2, 209 pounds at the NFL IPP pro day in March, Rees-Zammit clocked a 4.43-second 40-yard dash, a 20-inch vertical jump and a 115-inch broad jump during athletic testing.

Rees-Zammit logged six rushes for 22 yards, one reception for three yards and two kickoff returns with an average of 31.5 yards per return attempt with the Chiefs in his first NFL preseason.

Should Rees-Zammit sign with Jacksonville, he would be a candidate to replace tight end Patrick Murtagh as the Jaguars’ IPP-designated player for the 2024 season.

Murtagh was waived with an injury designation Tuesday after suffering an ankle injury that required surgery during Jacksonville’s training camp. He has since reverted to the Jaguars’ injured reserve and is out for the season.

“We’ll rehab [Murtagh] and try to get him ready for next year,” Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke said Tuesday. “That opens up a spot. We can now have another [International Player Pathway program player].”

Chiefs cuts: Kansas City parts with Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit

According to a report, the Kansas City #Chiefs decided to release promising ex-rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit on Tuesday.

Among the players cut by the Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday was Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, who was among the team’s most heavily publicized players during training camp.

Signed as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program in the 2024 offseason, Rees-Zammit showed promise in all three of Kansas City’s preseason games, but his inexperience showed.

Despite the Chiefs’ decision to move on from him, Rees-Zammit is still a prospect who should be on the radars of football fans around the country, who only got a first glimpse of what he is capable of over the last few weeks.

Though his time in Kansas City has come to an end for now, Rees-Zammit is likely to be a candidate to sign with the Chiefs’ practice squad if he isn’t offered a deal on another team’s 53-man roster in the next few days.

Stay tuned to see where Rees-Zammit lands after his release on Tuesday.

Andy Reid assesses Louis Rees-Zammit’s performance vs. Bears

Check out what Andy Reid had to say about Louis Rees-Zammit’s performance in the #Chiefs’ loss to the #Bears on Thursday night.

The Kansas City Chiefs signed rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit in the 2024 offseason, hoping that he can achieve the same success he found across the pond in his new profession.

Rees-Zammit has now made appearances in three preseason games with the Chiefs, and head coach Andy Reid has taken notice of the ex-rugger’s efforts.

After Kansas City’s loss to the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Reid gave reporters an update on Rees-Zammit’s progression during the Chiefs’ postgame press conference.

“Yeah, (we) tried to get him the ball a little bit tonight and he had some real positive yards,” Reid explained. “It will be good for him to see and study himself on that. In live action like that. He is a heck of an athlete and it’s just a matter of getting familiar.”

Though Rees-Zammit was overshadowed by Carson Steele in the running game, Reid and general manager Brett Veach may still choose to keep him on Kansas City’s 53-man roster this season as a developmental prospect.

Louis Rees-Zammit answers questions from Chiefs locker room

Check out what Louis Rees-Zammit had to say when talking to the media in the #Chiefs locker room during a recent interview.

Kansas City Chiefs’ acquisition of ex-rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit made waves during the 2024 offseason, and while the Welshman adjusts to life on the American gridiron, his notoriety in Western Missouri is already growing.

Though he is still in the process of learning the game, Rees-Zammit has gotten experience as a returner and kickoff specialist in the preseason, proving that he can be more than a running back in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl defense campaign.

His role in Kansas City may be a work in progress, but judging from the following he gained at Chiefs training camp, the former rugger is on the fast track to becoming a fan-favorite.

Rees-Zammit was seen speaking to the media at Arrowhead Stadium after Kansas City’s narrow loss to the Detroit Lions last week in this video that was posted to the Chiefs Digest YouTube channel:

Expect to see Rees-Zammit in action during Kansas City’s matchup against the Chicago Bears on Thursday as the Chiefs look to finish their three-game preseason schedule with a win.

Chiefs RB Louis Rees-Zammit stayed late to admire Arrowhead Stadium after loss to Lions

#Chiefs RB Louis Rees-Zammit was seen admiring Arrowhead Stadium after Kansas City’s loss to the #Lions on Saturday.

Louis Rees-Zammit finally got to experience a football game at his new home field when the Kansas City Chiefs faced the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday afternoon

Rees-Zammit was a star rugby player overseas before joining the Chiefs via the International Player Pathway, and while he has plenty of experience as a professional athlete, the sheer scale of Arrowhead seemed to give him pause after Kansas City’s loss to Detroit.

In two pictures that were posted to Twitter by FOX 4 sports anchor Harold R. Kuntz, Rees-Zammit was spotted taking in the grand spectacle on his new home turf after fans exited the stadium:

While his NFL career is still in its infancy, Rees-Zammit has already proven to be an asset for the Chiefs’ offense and special teams unit during the preseason.

Expect to continue seeing the former rugger in action against the Chicago Bears on August 22 as he vies for a spot on Kansas City’s 53-man roster.

 

WATCH: Rees-Zammit dances past defense at training camp

Watch this clip from the Chiefs’ official Twitter, where the Kansas City Chief’s new Welsh running back perfectly connects with third-string QB Chris Oladokun, and fends off an interception attempt by rookie linebacker Curtis Jacobs followed by an attempted tackle from rookie cornerback D.J. Miller, maintaining possession and blasting downfield at practice.

Signing Welsh ex-rugby player Louis Rees-Zammit to the Kansas City Chiefs generated a lot of headlines and it is still unclear whether the young athlete will be a permanent fixture with the team.

Rees-Zammit had the chance to put in some work during the match against the Jaguars on Saturday, and while Chiefs fans’ reactions appear to be mixed, the American football convert did manage to get some short possessions and make a 23-yard kickoff.

Although his time on the field for the preseason game wasn’t score-generating, Rees-Zammit can make impressive plays when in possession of the ball as evidenced in this clip posted to the official Chiefs Twitter.

Watch this clip from the Chiefs’ official Twitter, where the Kansas City Chiefs’ new Welsh running back perfectly connects with third-string QB Chris Oladokun and fends off an interception attempt by rookie linebacker Curtis Jacobs followed by an attempted tackle from rookie cornerback D.J. Miller, maintaining possession and blasting downfield at practice.

Rees-Zammit will likely take the field against the Detroit Lions since the Chiefs leadership needs to decide who will make the 2024 roster, the ex-Rugby player will have to impress against competition to remain with the team.

Chiefs Dave Toub reveals update on Louis Rees-Zammit’s status vs. Lions: ‘He might not be available’

Kansas City #Chiefs Dave Toub reveals update on Louis Rees-Zammit’s status vs. Lions: ‘He might not be available’ | @EdEastonJr

The final days of training camp for the Kansas City Chiefs have coaches detailing their final messages ahead of the remaining preseason games, which will lead to final roster decisions.

Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub spoke with reporters on Wednesday after practice about the plans for kick returns heading into the second preseason game and the revelation about a player potentially out.

“We just need to get more reps out there and make sure that it’s clear what the rules are; obviously, we made a mistake in the game,” said Toub. “End up costing us, but it’s a great learning experience for us.”

Toub understood the mistake from last Saturday’s game and is focused on working with the same group of returners for this weekend against the Detroit Lions. He revealed that he may not have the services of one of his players, with rookie Louis Rees-Zammit not practicing on Wednesday.

“Same guys that you saw. We didn’t get a lot (of kick returns), but there were a lot of touchbacks. So I still want to see other guys. I want to see Rees (Louis Rees-Zammit), but he didn’t practice today.” said Toub. “He might not be available. We’ll see, but I still want to see…there’s a lot of guys I want to see. We got time to do that.”

The Chiefs haven’t officially announced the status of Rees-Zammit, so it will be another thing to look out for as camp wraps up on Thursday.

WATCH: Louis Rees-Zammit makes outstanding catch at Chiefs training camp

#Chiefs RB Louis Rees-Zammit looked like a seasoned veteran during training camp after hauling in this impressive catch at practice.

The Kansas City Chiefs are taking a brief break from training camp on Saturday before making a final push to prepare for their first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars next week.

Before their short breather on Saturday, Chiefs players put on a show during workouts earlier in the week, showing fans what they should expect during Kansas City’s Super Bowl defense campaign in 2024.

During Friday’s practice session on the field at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, promising young running back Louis Rees-Zammit made an incredible catch deep downfield in one-on-one drills.

Check out this video of Rees-Zammit’s impressive grab that was posted by @ArrowheadLive on Twitter:

Though Rees-Zammit isn’t likely to push Isiah Pacheco for a starting spot in Andy Reid’s offense, plays like this are a good indication that he is adjusting well to life in the NFL as a rookie, and may make an impact for the team as a backup this season.