Aaron Jones recently pretended to be a former BYU player. Here’s why
Is former BYU safety Zayne Anderson even real?
That question was (jokingly) posed recently to a handful of Green Bay Packers players by PackersNews.com. Safety Darnell Savage defended his existence, while star running back Aaron Jones claimed that he and Anderson were one and the same.
“I’m Zayne Anderson. I think I’m the real Zayne Anderson,” Jones quipped.
As the video progresses, Savage walks over to where the actual Anderson is sitting in the Packers locker room.
“Why they saying you’re not real, bro?” Savage asks. “It’s time for me to confirm it.”
Is Zayne Anderson even real bro? pic.twitter.com/WYafFBlOvu
— Kassidy Hill (@KassidyGHill) October 20, 2023
Who is Zayne Anderson?
Anderson is a safety for the Packers. He’s been with the team since August, when Green Bay claimed him off waivers.
Anderson grew up in Stansbury Park, and became a three-star recruit while playing running back and safety for Stansbury Park High School. He was recruited by Utah State University and BYU, and chose to accept the Cougars’ offer.
Anderson spent six years with the BYU program, including two redshirt years related to a shoulder injury. He went undrafted in the spring of 2021, but eventually found a home with the Kansas City Chiefs.
During two seasons with the Chiefs, Anderson spent most of his time on the practice squad. However, he did make special teams appearances in seven regular season games and three postseason games, and he got a Super Bowl ring earlier this year, as the Deseret News previously reported.
Anderson was signed by the Buffalo Bills in February but then cut, which made him available for the Packers. Since coming to Green Bay, he hasn’t had any game reps on defense, in part because he’s been dealing with a hamstring injury.
“Hamstrings are frustrating because it’s not something you can ... play with. ... It’s something that kind of lags a little bit. ... Especially when you’re a new guy, and haven’t really proven yourself yet, it’s a worst-case scenario,” Anderson says during the video.
“I’m taking it day-by-day,” he added
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Will Zayne Anderson play for the Packers again this season?
The “Is Zayne Anderson even real?” video celebrated Anderson’s return to practice after weeks spent rehabbing the hamstring injury.
Players joked that they couldn’t deny Anderson was real when they’d just seen him on the field.
In his own interview for the PackersNews.com video, Anderson attempts to prove he’s real by naming the teachers he had in elementary school. After refusing to believe that Anderson’s third grade teacher was also named Anderson, reporter Kassidy Hill acknowledges that only the real Zayne Anderson would have a fourth grade teacher named Mrs. Manzione.
“OK, that’s just a strange enough name that I don’t think you made it up,” Hill says.
Anderson responds, “It’s Utah. We have some strange names over there.”
Although he was once again out for the Packers’ game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, there’s hope that he’ll be available when the Packers take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Oct. 29.
