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Snubbed Louis Rees-Zammit to make shock switch to new NFL franchise - reports

By Philip Bendon
Louis Rees-Zammit

Less than twenty-four hours after being informed that he had not made it onto the Kansas City Chiefs 53-man roster, Louis Rees-Zammit appears to have found a new home in the NFL.

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According to reports, the former Welsh international is close to finalising a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars of the AFC South division.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz broke the news after the Welshman removed his Chiefs profile picture and any reference to the team from his social media profiles, tweeting that the Running Back was already in talks with the Jaguars.

The Jaguars, who are owned by Fulham Football Club owner Shahid Khan, play two of their designated home games in London each year.

Following his cutting by the reigning Super Bowl champions on Tuesday, Rees-Zammit cleared through the NFL’s waiver wire which allows teams to submit claims for qualifying players that have previously been cut by other teams.

By clearing through this process, the Welshman on account of coming through the IPP (International Player Pathway) is exempt from counting against a team’s practice squad numbers.

Per the NFL Football Operations website, Rees-Zammit would qualify based on the following: “The NFL has specific roster rules for players that sign through the IPP. Each season, an NFL division is selected at random to participate in the IPP program. Designated teams are allowed an extra off-season roster spot for the IPP player assigned to that team.

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“At the end of training camp, IPP players can either be signed to their assigned club’s 53-man roster or waived. Players who clear waivers may be signed to their assigned team’s practice squad using an IPP exemption that allows for an extra practice squad spot. IPP players signed to a practice squad using the exemption may not be signed to any team’s active roster that season; however, players signed to a practice squad without the exemption are treated in the same way as other practice squad players for roster purposes.”

Initially signing a three-year contract with the Chiefs worth £2.24m after graduating through the International Pathway Programme, Rees-Zammit has seen the contract voided. Should he make it onto a practice squad, he would earn $225,000 (£170,000) per year.

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Comments

1 Comment
M
MattJH 21 days ago

Could someone please shout Rugbypass writers a dictionary?

They are forever confusing the word ‘shock’ with the term ‘mildly eyebrow raising at best’.

The last article about him said a move like this was possible.

B
Bull Shark 20 days ago

Sadly, not even Rugbypass cares enough about this story to care.

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Bull Shark 23 minutes ago
Why Rassie Erasmus should cull some Boks veterans for 2027

I think cull is the wrong word.


I think Rassie and the senior players will be pretty open and honest with each other about their prospects for another World Cup campaign. And, ironically, I don’t think Rassie is thinking as far ahead as 2027 in terms of who is going to go.


There are likely going to be injuries too where players one would assume will be at 2027 won’t feature. Think Marx and Am and 2023.


I think the priority is really having as many players as possible in contention for a spot on the 33 by the time squad selection comes around.


I made this point a while ago, but having double World Cup winners in the setup over the next 3 years is going to be golden for the boks. It’s like having a coach in each position.


Razor was criticized for having too many coaches in his team. Rassie has more than 15 player coaches at his disposal.


I think Siya is being teed up to play the same role Duane did at the 2023 RWC. Invitation to the coaching box this coming weekend included.


I think many of the old guard are playing a role in the team that certainly does not guarantee them a 2027 place but doesn’t hurt their chances at being selected - but they will have to be the no.1 or no. 2 best in that position to be selected at that time. There won’t be any dead weight - whether old or young.


In my mind the strategy would be quite simple. Take everyone who will be over 32 by 2027 and pencil their names in right now in slot number three for their relative position. We know what they can do and they know what they need to do to be in contention for 2027.


Then ask yourself who do we have to take position no.1 and no. 2. Tried and tested or not. Find them and trial them over the next 3 years. Their job is to keep the old guys out. And the old guys job is to help them do just that.


That’s what Rassie has to do and has started well trying 48 players and 11 debutants in year one as the article mentioned (and winning).


I reckon there’ll be another 5-10 new players tried by the end of this year, particularly in November.


2024 ✅

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