Louis Rees-Zammit and the Jaguars’ wide receivers showed strong cohesion with quarter-back Trevor Lawrence

10:25, 24 Jul 2025Updated 16:52, 24 Jul 2025

Louis Rees-Zammit in action on Wednesday. (Image: (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images))

Louis Rees-Zammit has started his official pre-season training camp ahead of his second season in the NFL. The former Wales wing is trying to make it in American football after leaving rugby in January 2024.

The Welshman did not play on one occasion in his first season, with his maiden campaign being more of a learning process than a chance to break into the 53-player roster. However, the pressure will now be on Rees-Zammit to prove that he has what it takes to be an elite American football player in the States.

On Wednesday, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Cohen got his players together for their first day of training camp at Miller Electric Center, with pre-season matches a matter of weeks away.

Rees-Zammit has, of course, been involved in other off-season training camps, but Wednesday represented the first official day of pre-season, with all players involved in training.

It was a simple 90-minute session to kick things off in Florida, and as Jaguars writer John Oehser says, it may have been short, but there was a noticeable intensity on the first day back.

“Day one of Jaguars ’25 training camp may have been short – and it may not have been in pads – but this didn’t feel like a ‘light, ramp-up’ practice,” began Oehser.

“The Jaguars’ short practice Wednesday featured two periods of 11-on-11 work and two periods of seven-on-seven work – and while there wasn’t the high contact you will see in future weeks, there was an intensity in the first camp practice under head coach Liam Coen.

“(Trevor) Lawrence (Jaguars quarter-back) and the receivers (one of those is Rees-Zammit) worked out together extensively between the end of the off-season program and the start of training camp in locales from the Bahamas to the Episcopal School of Jacksonville – and those repetitions appeared to yield results in cohesion and timing Monday.

“Of note on this front: A comeback route by Thomas on a pass from Lawrence that Thomas turned into a long gain and possible touchdown. Yes, it was non-padded with a lot of first-day stuff. But this was an energetic, efficient way to open.”

This represents the NFL’s ‘ramp-up period’, which gradually builds players back up to speed before placing pads on for practice. This is something which was agreed by the NFL Players Association and the NFL to slowly work the players into shape. They are not allowed to hit each other in this period.

JagsWire writer Paul Bretl wrote a story that detailed the Jaguars’ depth charts for the upcoming season, ranking players from most important to least. Under wide receivers, Rees-Zammit placed in 11th, sitting above Chandler Brayboy, JJ Jones and Darius Lassiter, perhaps a subtle detail as to where they see him in the pecking order.

Prior to flying out to the States, Rees-Zammit did some training with former Wales rugby team-mates Liam Williams and Gareth Anscombe to help prepare for the next chapter of his challenge. Before that, the Penarth-born man was out in the Maldives with girlfriend Drew Knotts.

However, preparations have now become serious for Rees-Zammit, who is preparing for the first pre-season match against Pittsburgh Steelers on August 10, where he will hope to make an impact.

He will have further opportunities against the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins before the regular season begins in September. The squad will be decided at the end of August, and Rees-Zammit is still an exemption as an International Player Pathway player.

Rees-Zammit has recognised he is working against the clock to make it in the NFL, and hinted at a return to rugby to talkSPORT last month.

“International players get probably two to three years to make it in the NFL,” he said.

“So I wanted to do it at a time where I maybe could come back to rugby. I’m 24 now, probably got one to two more years to try and make it depending on how this year goes. I’ll be 25, 26 when I go back to rugby. I like to think I can still play at the highest level.”