The Denver Broncos signed veteran defensive back Ugo Amadi to their practice squad on Friday ahead of their Week 5 divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The move comes after Denver lost starting cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss to injuries in Week 4.
Amadi, 29, brings second-hand experience to multiple absences. The 5-foot-9, 201-pound defensive back appeared in 85 NFL games, recording 208 tackles, 22 pass breakups, two sacks and one interception in 17 career starts.
Originally selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Amadi has played for six NFL teams and now joins his seventh. He spent the past three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, making five starts in 2024. In that campaign, he finished with 65 tackles, including 52 solo stops, six tackles for loss, two sacks and seven pass breakups.
The Broncos added Amadi after working out eight players, all of whom are defensive backs or linebackers. With Surtain and Moss out for Week 5, young defensive backs Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine are expected to help fill voids alongside veteran nickel corner Ja’Quan McMillian. Barron is expected to move outside to cover Surtain, leaving Denver with limited immediate depth behind McMillian in the slot.
Amadi will eventually help fill that gap. Although he was previously listed as a safety, he will likely play nickel cornerback for the Broncos. His physical style of play can also be useful against offenses with multiple tight ends, a personnel trend that has led Denver to overhaul its defensive backfield this season.
McMillian has seen his playing time drop somewhat as opponents deploy heavier tight end formations. The Broncos also increased the involvement of third safety Devon Key to counter those packages, especially when defending the run. Amadi’s size and physicality could offer another option in those situations if Denver elevates him from the practice squad, though his immediate promotion remains uncertain.
The Denver Broncos signed veteran defensive back Ugo Amadi to their practice squad on Friday ahead of their Week 5 divisional matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The move comes after Denver lost starting cornerbacks Patrick Surtain II and Riley Moss to injuries in Week 4. Amadi, 29, brings experience to the secondary with multiple absences.