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AROUND THE SHIELD — A day after the NFL's mandatory 53-man roster release for all 32 teams, several former high school and college football players from Utah kept the dream alive.
More than 20 players were released or waived on what the league calls "cut-down day," including two placed on injured reserve, while 51 made active rosters — a list that includes former BYU running back and undrafted free agent Chris Brooks, among others.
A day later, a half-dozen players saw their careers continue.
The Packers claimed former BYU defensive back Zayne Anderson off waivers a day after being released by the Buffalo Bills. The 26-year-old safety from Stansbury Park went undrafted out of BYU in 2021 before spending two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, playing primarily on special teams over seven games.
In Green Bay, Anderson joins practice-squad center James Empey and special-teams ace Dallin Leavitt, both of whom he knew from BYU, as well as former Utah State quarterback Jordan Love.
Leavitt's blue-collar work ethic is a similar path that Anderson, who has developed his own reputation on special teams, hopes to emulate — even if he didn't think he'd be in Wisconsin earlier in the week.
"I was in my hotel in Buffalo, getting ready to go somewhere else, and my agent called and said, 'turn around; you're headed to Green Bay,'" Anderson told Green Bay media of how he received the news. "I was stoked. It was super crazy, but I'm super excited."
Anderson signed with the Bills in February, making three tackles on special teams over three preseason games before being released Tuesday. His inclusion on the Packers' active roster marks 15 former BYU players on an active roster two weeks from the first game of the season, with one of the Packers' two waiver picks selected Wednesday.
"This year, it was a blessing to be on the other end of it," the former all-state athlete at Stansbury said. "Getting cut is never a good thing, but you keep that same attitude, show up every day, and it's a huge blessing. It's just back to work now."
Wednesday was also the first day teams could begin adding promising or intriguing players to 16-member practice squads across the league.
After his release, former Utah star Britain Covey immediately re-signed to the practice squad with the Philadelphia Eagles, as first reported by NBC Philadelphia's John Clark. The one-time Timpview High quarterback started his rookie season on the Eagles' practice squad in 2022 before being elevated to the active roster.
The 5-foot-8, 173-pound wide receiver and return specialist returned 33 punts during the regular season, averaging 9.3 yards per return with three punts returned for at least 20 yards. Covey added a pair of punt returns in the latest Super Bowl, which the Eagles lost to Kansas City 38-35.
Former BYU center James Empey was signed to the Green Bay Packers' practice squad, as reported by Houston-based NFL reporter Aaron Wilson and others. The American Fork product was assigned to the Packers off waivers after being waived by the Tennessee Titans during offseason workouts.
Below is a look at former Utah college and high school football players who were added back to various rosters around the league after the NFL's cut-down day. Check back later for further updates.
Locals in the NFL roster additions update (Sept. 1, 2023):
- Zayne Anderson, S, BYU/Stansbury: Claimed off waivers by Green Bay Packers
- Britain Covey, WR/RET, Utah/Timpview: Signed to practice squad by Philadelphia Eagles
- James Empey, C, BYU/American Fork: Signed to practice squad by Green Bay Packers
- Terrell Burgess, S, Utah: Signed to practice squad by Washington Commanders
- Eric Rowe, S, Utah: Signed to practice squad by Carolina Panthers
- Matt Bushman, TE, BYU: Signed to practice squad by Kansas City Chiefs
- Bryan Thompson, WR, Utah: Signed to practice squad by Buffalo Bills
- Cole Fotheringham, TE, Utah: Signed to practice squad by Las Vegas Raiders
- Jackson Barton, OL, Utah/Brighton: Signed to practice squad by Arizona Cardinals, per PHNX's Bo Brack
- Nick Vigil, LB, Utah State/Fremont: Signed to practice squad by Minnesota Vikings
- Derek Wright, WR, Utah State/Snow College/Manti: Signed to practice squad by Carolina Panthers after being waived Wednesday
- Simi Fehoko, WR, Brighton (via Stanford): Signed to practice squad by Pittsburgh Steelers
- Kaleb Hayes, CB, BYU: Signed to practice squad by New York Giants
- Chris Wilcox, CB, BYU: Signed to practice squad by Los Angeles Chargers
