The Kansas City Chiefs have opened up about Louis Rees-Zammit's departure from the Super Bowl-winning squad, acknowledging they nudged him to explore options with other teams.
Despite not making the 53-man first-team roster, expectations were high that Welshman Rees-Zammit would land a spot on the Chiefs' practice squad to hone his skills. However, by Wednesday night, it became apparent that Rees-Zammit had been let go, as he scrubbed his social media of any Kansas City affiliations.
This turn of events came as a surprise, especially since the Chiefs had previously been vocal about Rees-Zammit's impressive athleticism and dedication. They had secured him with a three-year deal initially and went above and beyond to lure him to their side. Now, Rees-Zammit has joined the Jacksonville Jaguars , having inked a practice squad contract with the Florida team.
In the wake of this unexpected shift, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach was questioned on Thursday night about whether the team attempted to retain him for their practice squad or advised him to seek opportunities elsewhere. Veach explained: "We kept it open, we wanted the kid to really look at maybe some different opportunities as well.
"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. We were kind of thinking about it going through camp, imagine not having any sort of foundational background, just to be thrown in and be doing one-on-one pass-pros with a Drue Tranquill or a Nick Bolton. I mean, that's pretty incredible."
Veach hinted that the Chiefs had their work cut out figuring out where Rees-Zammit would shine on the field. The Jaguars have now snapped him up as a wide receiver after he was initially pegged as a running back with the Chiefs, where he was tested in various positions during the pre-season.
"I think for him, it'll be just finding out that exact position," Veach remarked. "Running back, maybe a big slot receiver, I think he does have some potential as a returner. I'm not so sure he couldn't be a kicker. I mean, he had an outstanding leg, and with this new rule, he can do some different things, provide some versatility."
Veach also pointed out that the Jaguars' strong ties to the UKthey're set to play two games in London come Octoberand their sunny Florida location likely played a role in attracting the ex-Wales rugby sensation.
Veach praised the player's decision, noting the international aspect of the Jacksonville team: "I think the Jacksonville thing, and their relationship overseas and what that brings to the table, going overseas twice a year, I think that was probably something that interested him," he said. He continued to laud the player's qualities and potential for growth: "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."
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