Former Wallabies utility back Jordan Petaia is weighing up his options in the NFL after initially being waived and then placed on the injured reserves list by his club, the Los Angeles Chargers.
Petaia signed a three-year contract with the franchise in April and started the process of trying to make their 53-man roster.
The 25-year-old is battling a hamstring injury after he made a late cameo appearance for the Chargers in their first pre-season game against the Detroit Lions at the start of this month.
Petaia, who made 31 Test appearances for Australia and represented his country at the 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups, impressed during his stint at the International Player Pathway (IPP) before joining the Chargers.
Replaced by fellow Australian
However, on Friday he was waived and replaced by another Australian, Thomas Yassmin, who played rugby alongside him at schoolboys level.
Yassmin, who hails from Sydney, played college football at Utah and was part of the Denver Broncos’ training squad last season as an IPP athlete.
After being waived, Petaia was then placed on the Chargers’ injured reserves list, ahead of the NFL’s 53-man roster deadline later this month.
According to AAP, Petaia’s hamstring injury is a minor one. He is familiar with soft-tissue complaints, having sustained them during his rugby career, and is taking a cautious approach to his latest injury to avoid a long-term issue.
Petaia is aware of the NFL’s cut-throat approach to contracting and is understood to be unperturbed by this setback, and is assessing his options.
Unlikely Petaia will be part of the Chargers’ 53-man roster
NFL clubs are allowed to recall eight players from their injured list to play during a campaign, although with fellow tight end Yassmin assuming the extra, designated IPP position, it’s unlikely that Petaia will be in the mix for a 53-man roster spot at the Chargers.
The Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, and Kansas City Chiefs also showed initial interest in Petaia, who could still be snapped up as an IPP athlete by a club who are yet to sign one.
Petaia spent his entire rugby union career with the Queensland Reds, where he made his debut as an 18-year-old in 2018, before they gave him their blessing to chase his NFL dream.
The Reds have remained in close contact with Petaia since he made the cross-code switch, although there is no formal arrangement which ties the player to the Brisbane-based outfit.
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