Jaguars sign former Chiefs RB and Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit to practice squad

The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed running back Louis Rees-Zammit to their practice squad.

The Jaguars will receive a practice squad exemption for Rees-Zammit via the International Player Pathway program. Rees-Zammit entered the NFL through the IPP program (a 10-week crash course designed to teach international athletes the required skills to succeed in the NFL) when he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs during the offseason.

Rees-Zammit had a historic run as a rugby player, beginning his career at just 16 years old. He started by playing wing at club level for Gloucester from 2018-2024, then made 32 international appearances for Wales, scoring 14 tries, including five tries in the Rugby World Cup. He also toured with The British & Irish Lions in 2021, becoming the youngest player selected for a tour since 1959.

Growing up as a fan of football thanks to his father , Rees-Zammit retired from rugby to pursue an NFL career. When he signed with the Chiefs, they put him at running back and had him in the mix as a kick returner. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds, Rees-Zammit is a tremendous athlete who ran a 4.4 40-yard dash during the IPP program pro day.

As expected, he faced a big uphill battle to make the Chiefs' roster. Learning a new sport at the professional level is a monumental task, and Rees-Zammit had plenty of struggles throughout training camp. He did finish the preseason strong, however, finishing with a 5.2 rushing yards per carry average and a 36-yard kickoff return against the Chicago Bears .

Joining the Jaguars is the best-case scenario for Rees-Zammit mentally as coach Doug Pederson's scheme has many similarities to Andy Reid's. Being able to spend a year learning on the practice squad will be huge for Rees-Zammit and will give him the opportunity to make a real run at making a 53-man roster next year, whether it's for the Jaguars or someone else.

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