Louis Rees-Zammit has revealed that he feels happier playing in a new position with the Jacksonville Jaguars after joining the franchise from the Kansas City Chiefs in August.
The former Wales international was signed by the Chiefs following his stint in the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program, and spent his time with the two-time defending Super Bowl champions training as a running back and on special teams.
During the final roster cutdowns in the summer Rees-Zammit missed out on a spot with the Chiefs, before taking the international player spot on the Jaguars’ practice (reserve) squad ahead of the 2024 season.
Discussing the switch to play at receiver, Rees-Zammit said that his new position had always been his preference since his switch from rugby union at the start of the year.
“I always wanted to play receiver, but because of how stacked that wide-receiver room was [with the Chiefs] and how many people there were, I probably didn’t get that opportunity,” he told The Times. “I don’t hate on that. I learnt the game at running back and I enjoyed it, but ultimately it wasn’t the position for me. I feel much more comfortable at receiver here.”
Being on the practice squad, a group of 17 players who train against the main roster and can be called up at any time for NFL matches, is also something Rees-Zammit believes will help his development throughout this season.
“I’m taking this year, especially switching positions, as a learning year, just trying to get as much as I can under my belt at receiver. If an opportunity arises, then as I said, I’m going to try to take it with both hands and get a place in the team,” said the 23-year-old.
“For now, as a practice-squad player, I’m just focused on giving our defence the best looks and also whatever routes I’ve got to run, try to run them to the best of my ability and learn every day in the classroom with the receivers and with the receiver coaches, and special teams is massive as well.”
Rees-Zammit has been in London for the past two weeks for the Jaguars’ games against the Chicago Bears last Sunday – a 35-16 loss – and New England Patriots this weekend, and was part of an NFL Foundation event earlier this week with the Prince of Wales. The pair also posed for a photograph holding a Jaguars shirt with ‘HRH 24’ on the back, while the pair also participated in some throwing drills with Rees-Zammit joking “he’s a lot better than me”.
