
DREAMS KEPT ALIVE IN POST-CUT SHUFFLE
NFL hopefuls Louis Rees-Zammit, Charlie Smyth and Jude McAtamney have all found homes on practice squads ahead of the 2024 season, which kicks off a week from now, despite having initially been released by their respective teams.
Erstwhile Welsh rugby star Rees-Zammit made headlines when he stepped away from the sport he had played since childhood to pursue a long-held NFL dream, a story that only increased in interest when he signed a three-year deal with the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs after impressing in training at the IMG Academy in Florida. However, after seeing limited action in preseason — in which he tried out as a receiver, running back, kick returner and kicker — the 22-year-old joined the 1000+ names released across the league as teams struggled to reduce rosters from 90 players to the 53 allowed for the upcoming season.
Rees-Zammit’s hopes of remaining with the Chiefs as a 17th member of the practice squad due to an International Player Pathway exemption were complicated by the presence of Nigerian offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick, who remains on the roster. Placed on waivers after his release, LRZ’s future appeared uncertain until Jacksonville swooped to claim him, as reported by ESPN. The Jaguars — acknowledged as ‘Britain’s Team’ due to the fact that they have played games in London for more than a decade — were one of a handful of franchises that showed interest in Rees-Zammit after an impressive showing at the IPP Pro Day in March (he also spoke with both the Jets and Browns before signing in KC) and are likely to stash the Welshman on their practice squad, allowing him to work out with the rest of the team during the week, but not play unless elevated to the active roster, something that can happen three times a season.
Smyth and McAtamney, meanwhile, were both signed back to the practice squad by their original teams — the New Orleans Saints and New York Giants respectively — having been released at Tuesday’s cutdown. The former Gaelic football stars, both aiming to find a kicking role in the NFL, had their moments in preseason, with Smyth — like Rees-Zammit a product of the IPP — slotting home a last-gasp 37-yard field goal to help the Saints beat Arizona, while McAtamney scored from from both 23 and 43 yards as the Giants went down to New York rivals, the Jets.
Both Irishmen lost out in selection to established kickers who had been with their teams for at least a season, with Blake Grupe retaining the spot in New Orleans and Scottish veteran Graham Gano seeing off McAtamney, who had signed with the Giants as an undrafted free agent after starring at Rutgers.