Chiefs Cut Multiple Young Playmakers, Former Rugby Star

As the 53-man roster deadline neared, the Kansas City Chiefs cut multiple young offensive weapons to make sure their roster was underneath the limit on Tuesday. Those cuts involved former college football standouts tight end Irv Smith Jr. and wide receiver Justyn Ross, as well as former rugby star and current running back Louis Rees-Zammit.

The cuts to the two receivers did not come as a surprise to many, as the team simply had too many strong receivers to keep on the roster ahead of them on the depth chart. They especially made sense after the Chiefs traded for tight end Peyton Hendershot and signed receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster as well.

For Rees-Zammit, his NFL dreams hit a roadblock after 23-year-old quit rugby in January to pursue a career in football through the league's International Player Pathway Program. While the running back didn't make the initial roster, he's expected to take time to develop and may land on the Chiefs' practice squad.

Ross failed to make the roster after a very disappointing start to his NFL career. After being a standout for Clemson University and winning a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2019, Ross failed to win playing time in the NFL, finishing his first two seasons on the Chiefs with just 53 receiving yards.

As for Smith Jr., he will be looking for his third team in as many years after spending his first four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings where he carved out a solid backup tight end role with the team.

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The Chiefs have yet to announce if they will bring back any of the offensive weapons to their practice squad.