Former Wales rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit made his home debut for the Kansas City Chiefs in a preseason game on Saturday.
The reigning Super Bowl champions hosted the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium in their penultimate preseason game ahead of their season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 6.
Rees-Zammit had been struggling with a back injury in the days leading up to the game but recovered in time to play multiple roles in the Chiefs’ 24-23 loss.
The 23-year-old, who played for Gloucester and the British and Irish Lions during his rugby career, returned a punt for 27 yards and played some snaps as a wide receiver, though he made no catches. Rees-Zammit also returned a kickoff in the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs’ final preseason game comes against the Chicago Bears on Friday, after which point coach Andy Reid and his staff will select their 53-man roster for the season.
“I’m not going to be the best player in the world overnight, so I’ve got to be patient,” Rees-Zammit said after the loss to the Lions. “We’ve got one more preseason game, so I am going to try and show out there. I’ve got to perform and I’ve got to do well because, you know, this is a cut-throat business.
“I’m just going to continue to work really hard every day and then see what the future holds.”
Rees-Zammit has been looking to prove his value and versatility to the team throughout the preseason after signing a three-year contract via the NFL’s International Player Pathway program in March.
He made his debut last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, playing as a running back, kicker and punt returner.