JACKSONVILLE – The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed OL Blake Hance, S Matthew Jackson and WR Louis Rees-Zammit to the practice squad, the team announced today.
Hance has appeared in 50 games in his NFL career, including nine starts. Last season with Jacksonville, Hance appeared in all 17 games and made one start against Baltimore in Week 15. The Jacksonville, Ill., native has also spent time with Buffalo, Washington, Cleveland, San Francisco and the New York Jets. He played collegiately at Northwestern where he made 47 starts from 2014-18. Hance spent 2024 training camp with the Jaguars.
Jackson originally signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL Draft. In 10 games with Tennessee as a rookie, he recorded one tackle on defense and five tackles (three solo) on special teams. The Nashville, Tenn., native played five seasons (2018-22) at linebacker at Eastern Kentucky University. In 50 games, Jackson registered 294 tackles (170 solo), 27.5 tackles for loss, 14 passes defensed, 8.0 sacks, five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. He was named ASUN All-Conference consecutively in 2021 and 2022.
Rees-Zammit, a native of Penarth, Wales, is a member of the NFL's International Player Pathway (IPP) Program. He played for Gloucester of Premiership Rugby, England's top rugby division, from 2018-24 and totaled 210 points in 77 club appearances. Internationally, Rees-Zammit represented Wales (2019-23) and the British & Irish Lions (2021). He recorded 105 points in 41 international appearances and became the youngest player since 1959 to be selected to the British & Irish Lions squad. Rees-Zammit spent 2024 training camp with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Established in 2017, the IPP Program aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills and ultimately work to earn a spot on an NFL roster. Players began training in the United States in January at IMG Academy and had the opportunity to showcase their talents to NFL club scouts in March. At the conclusion of training camp, IPP athletes are eligible to fill a 17th practice squad roster — an additional spot reserved for an international player — following the rule change beginning with the 2024 season applicable to athletes outside the United States and Canada.
