AFTER a whirlwind eight months transitioning from rugby star to NFL hopeful, Louis Rees-Zammit is on the cusp of discovering whether he has done enough to secure a spot on the Kansas City Chiefs’ active roster.
The former Wales wing has undergone rigorous training all summer, with coaches closely monitoring his progress to see if he can complete his sensational switch from rugby and earn a place on the Super Bowl champions’ 53-man roster ahead of the new season.
Rees-Zammit has made a significant impression in the US, with coaches, fans, pundits, and players – including his new superstar teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce – expressing their admiration for the 23-year-old.
Having never played American football before leaving rugby to join the NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP) programme in January, making the Chiefs’ roster rather than the practice squad would be a remarkable achievement for the Welshman. However, a loophole has emerged that could greatly enhance his chances.
While he came through the IPP programme, Rees-Zammit was signed by the Chiefs as a free agent, meaning he is not subject to the NFL’s IPP exemptions and therefore faces different rules.
Under IPP rules for 2024, players who came through the programme are eligible to fill a 17th roster spot on the otherwise 16-man practice squad of any of the 32 NFL teams. This spot is reserved exclusively for IPP players, ensuring they cannot be signed by other teams while on the practice squad.
However, because Rees-Zammit was technically signed as a non-IPP player, if placed on the Chiefs’ practice squad, he remains eligible to be picked up by their NFL rivals.
Thus, while he lacks the guaranteed practice squad spot given to those who came through the programme with him, it could still work in his favour, as the Chiefs may opt to place him on the active roster to prevent other teams from signing him.
Discussing the situation on the Chiefs Concerns podcast, pundit Cole DeRuse explained: “I understand that they [Chiefs management] didn’t put the International Pathway Player exemption on him, so if he does not make the roster he would have to clear waivers and he can get scooped up by somebody else.”
While he expressed doubt over whether Rees-Zammit will indeed make the roster, DeRuse added: “You could make the case that the Chiefs may put him on the 53 to kind of protect him. They’ve done that before.
“I really think he’d benefit from a year in the Chiefs’ system, going through the reps and soaking up football knowledge. I don’t know that he makes the roster at this point in time.”
