Louis Rees-Zammit has been handed a big lifeline to keep his NFL career alive.
On Tuesday, the former Wales rugby start was released by the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs after failing to make their 53-man roster.
However, on Wednesday, it was revealed that LRZ is close to finalizing a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, per NFL Insider Jordan Schultz.
It is a major surprise as the expectation was that he would land on the Chiefs practice squad for the 2024 season, giving him a chance to continue to hone his skills in a new sport and potentially be promoted to the main roster later on in the season.
Rees-Zammit, who scored 14 tries in 32 appearances for Wales, announced in January he was quitting rugby on the eve of his nation’s Six Nations campaign.
He joined the IPP, impressing on his pro day, posting a 4.43 40-yard dash and 29-inch vertical jump.
He signed a three-year contract with the Chiefs in March, and showed glimpses of what he’s capable of in preseason games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, and Chicago Bears,
However, the odds were always stacked against the speedster as he integrated himself into a complex new sport with many intricacies, and ultimately his performances weren’t enough to secure a roster spot for the Week 1 clash with the Baltimore Ravens on September 5.
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Rees-Zammit made his preseason debut in a 26-13 defeat to the Jaguars and was involved in a four different roles: running back, kick returner, kicker and as part of the punt coverage team.
He then overcame a back issue to make his home debut at Arrowhead Stadium against the Lions, returning a Lions kick-off for 27 yards and and playing as a wide receiver.
His final preseason game came in a 34-21 defeat to the Caleb Williams-less Bears on Thursday. The 23-year-old had four carries for 21 yards, including back-to-back carries of ten and four yards.
After the disappointment of Tuesday, his NFL dreams have now been given a significant boost.
