6 Chiefs Who Won't Survive the Preseason

3. Louis Rees-Zammit, Running Back/Return Specialist

When the NFL modified its kickoff return format for the 2024 season, you had to know there was no doubt that Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub would be in his bag looking for ways to take advantage.

One of the most underrated aspects of this Chiefs team in recent years has been the overall play of the special teams, which have been elite in every facet.

The return game was in focus this offseason because teams are expected to get no fewer than 100 opportunities to return kicks this coming season and the Chiefs want to make sure they have as many quality options as possible.

That's why they went out and won the bidding war for former rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit, who absolutely crushed an audition workout for NFL teams with a blazing 4.43 40-yard dash.

Given he's played rugby and not football, it seemed the clearest fit at the NFL level for Rees-Zammit would be as a ball carrier, and the new kickoff format was seemingly perfect for acclimating him quickly.

Unfortunately for Rees-Zammit (and all of us), we didn't see him take any kickoffs against the Jaguars. Montrell Washington, Nikko Remigio, Deneric Prince, and Mecole Hardman all took reps in that phase, while Washington and Remigio had impressive 30-plus yard returns.

It may not look good for Rees-Zammit, who had one catch for three yards and two carries for one yard. He's going to have to make more of an impression than that to make the roster, and that type of debut should have been expected for his first NFL action, even if it is just the preseason.

Hopefully, Toub and the Chiefs will get him some reps in the return game, although the guys they have back there are already pretty good.