Trevor Lawrence, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ quarterback, didn’t mince his words when reflecting on the team’s offensive struggles after their nightmare start to the NFL season on Sunday.
“We suck right now,” he candidly acknowledged, a sentiment that could serve as motivation for ex-rugby sensation Louis Rees-Zammit as he aims to secure a spot on the Jags’ active roster following his addition to the practice squad.
The 23 year old former Welsh international caught the eye of the Kansas City Chiefs through the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program and participated in all pre-season games for the Chiefs as a running back and special teams contributor.
However, despite his efforts, Rees-Zammit was released during the final roster cuts to 53 players. The Jags then threw him a lifeline, converting him to wide receiver and placing him on the practice squad after he went unclaimed on waivers.
With only three professional football games under his belt, Rees-Zammit must patiently hone his skills before he can hope for game time. Yet, with the Jags suffering another loss on Sunday, chances may arise for him later this season, reports the Mirror US.
The Jags had previously squandered a lead against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 and have now succumbed to an 18-13 home defeat at the hands of the Cleveland Browns at TIAA Bank Field. Lawrence, who was the first overall pick in his draft year, completed a mere 14 of 30 passes for 220 yards and failed to throw a touchdown, offering a blunt critique of the Jaguars’ lacklustre offensive performance.
“It’s pretty shocking to me. We had a great offseason, a great training camp. We’ve got to figure it out,” Lawrence said. “[We need to] look at ourselves in the mirror and see what we can do better.
“It’s on all of us. We all have to look at that and just put emphasis on communication. It’s day one stuff. It’s simple stuff.”
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Despite facing criticism from some quarters of social media since his transition to the NFL, Rees-Zammit remains undeterred and focused on his goal of becoming a fully-fledged NFL player.
“I don’t really care about haters,” Rees-Zammit told the BBC shortly after joining the Jags. “They can say what they want behind their phones, behind their laptops making comments.”
“I don’t listen to that kind of stuff. I know what I’ve got to do to be successful and they can write all they want. I’m working really hard on this dream and I’ve got to try and do as much as I can every day to be a better football player and a better person.”
The Jags are set to return to action in Week 3 on Monday Night Football, where they face a challenging away game against the undefeated Buffalo Bills (2-0).
