Rugby star-turned-NFL hopeful Louis Rees-Zammit has reportedly been cut from the Kansas City Chiefs' roster . After a lackluster preseason, Rees-Zammit's hope to reach his NFL dream is fading faster than his renowned speed.
Rees-Zammit came through the NFL ranks through its International Player Pathway Program . Despite signing a deal in free agency with guaranteed money and a signing bonus, the Welsh star still falls under the banner of an international player and therefore could be signed to the practice squad as an additional player exempt from the usual limits for teams.
Offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick was previously the IPP player designated by the Chiefs. But his second-year, 2024 contract signed for one year worth $795,000 elevated the OT to a standard NFL contract, freeing up the practice squad slot. This loophole would seem the most likely pathway for Rees-Zammit to remain with the Chiefs without playing games as he continues to develop.
In 2024, the NFL changed a rule that states that teams can fill a 17th roster spot on the practice squad should they be an international player. They can use the slot for a player in the program or on a talent they choose to scout independently.
Rees-Zammit meets the league's criteria of a player's citizenship needing to be anywhere besides the United States and Canada, plus two years or less of a US high school background. Eighteen players are on NFL rosters from the program, including Australia's Jordan Mailata on the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commander players Efe Obada and David Bada.
The Chiefs lost all three preseason games leading up to their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept 5. But the back-to-back Super Bowl champions have experimented with an array of new weapons for Patrick Mahomes in the backfield and out wide.
Although Mahomes played just one drive in the first preseason game, The Chiefs saw 16 players catch passes and 11 rush the ball. Rees-Zammit carried the ball twice for one yard and caught just one pass for three yards in the 26-13 loss to Jacksonville.
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Kansas City's second game resulted in a 24-23 loss to the Detroit Lions, where the Welch rugby star was recovering from a back injury in the days leading up to the game. The Chiefs put the rookie on kick return duties due to his speed, which had previously reached 24.2 miles per hour.
Rees-Zammit returned one kick for 27 yards but didn't get involved in the offense for the rest of the game. In the final preseason game against the Chicago Bears, the Chiefs lost 34-21, seeing Rees-Zammit carry the ball four times for 21 yards and being targeted as a receiver once without any catches .
Reid assessed the 23-year-old's performance after the game. "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 an athlete, and it’s just a matter of getting familiar.
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