Louis Rees-Zammit has re-signed with his former team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, weeks after becoming a free agent. The 24-year-old remains fully committed to his dream of becoming an NFL player, having spent time on the Jaguars' practice squad last year. This dedication shows his persistence in pursuing his NFL aspirations.
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02-23, 2025The former Wales winger did not feature in any regular season games in 2024, only appearing in pre-season for his former team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Now that Rees-Zammit is back with the Jaguars, what does this mean for his future in the league? Can he earn playing time in the NFL? The competition will be fierce, but this is a step in the right direction.
There is no doubt that to play in the NFL, you need to be on a team. While Rees-Zammit has not played in any regular season games, signing a new contract with the Jaguars is a positive step for him. However, this is by no means a guarantee that he will get any regular season playing time. NFL teams can have a maximum of 90 players on their offseason roster, a number that will be reduced to 53 before the start of the regular season in September.
As part of the Jaguars' offseason roster, Rees-Zammit will have the opportunity to impress in training camp and in pre-season games in August. The Jaguars' pre-season dates and opponents will be announced in May. In addition to playing wide receiver, Rees-Zammit will need to excel on special teams. In the NFL, special teams plays include kickoffs, punts, and field goals. If the former Wales winger has any chance of making the Jaguars' 53-man regular season roster, he must prove his worth in these types of plays.
As a graduate of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP), if Rees-Zammit ends up back on the Jaguars' practice squad, the team can elevate him to the active roster three times during the regular season. But he has his sights set on a regular season roster spot, stating that he is "doing everything he can to achieve that goal." This determination will be crucial for his success.
Rees-Zammit is not the only wide receiver on the Jaguars' offseason roster fighting for a regular season spot. Brian Thomas Jr. is the team's leading receiver, coming off an impressive rookie season with 1,282 receiving yards. Christian Kirk, Gabe Davis, Josh Reynolds, and Parker Washington add receiving options for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The Jaguars also currently have wide receivers Devin Duvernay, Tim Jones, David White, Joshua Cephus, and Austin Trammell on their offseason roster.
On average, NFL teams aim to have six wide receivers on their 53-man regular season roster, while some teams opt for five or seven. If the Jaguars plan to have six wide receivers on their roster in September, Rees-Zammit will have to prove that he is more valuable than the other five reserve players currently signed with the team. Proving himself as a reliable punt returner would help his case, but veteran Duvernay filled that role last season along with Washington.
The Jaguars had a season to forget in 2024, winning only 4 of their 17 games. The disappointment of that season has led to sweeping changes. The team is still looking for a new general manager, while they have already appointed a new head coach, offensive coordinator, and defensive coordinator. New head coach Liam Coen, offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, and defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile are all highly regarded coaches.
These appointments have given Jaguars fans hope that the 2025 season can be a stepping stone to future success. In quarterback Lawrence, the Jaguars have one of the most highly touted college prospects of all time. While Lawrence has not lived up to the heights that many predicted, he still helped the Jaguars win their first AFC South title since 2017 in 2022. In the playoffs that season, Lawrence led the Jaguars back from a 0-27 deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers 31-30. That victory remains the third-largest comeback in NFL playoff history. With offensive-minded coach Coen at the helm, Jaguars fans will be hoping that Lawrence can replicate the form he showed in the second half of that game in the 2025 season.
