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 during Week 4.

Amadi, 29, brings experience to a secondary dealing with multiple absences. The 5-foot-9, 201-pound defensive back has appeared in 85 NFL games, recording 208 tackles, 22 pass breakups, two sacks and one interception across 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 is now joining his seventh. He spent the previous three seasons with the New Orleans Saints, making five starts in 2024. During 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 were either defensive backs or linebackers. With Surtain and Moss ruled out for Week 5, young defensive backs Jahdae Barron and Kris Abrams-Draine are expected to help fill the gaps alongside veteran nickel corner Ja'Quan McMillian. Barron is expected to move outside to cover for Surtain, leaving Denver with limited immediate depth behind McMillian in the slot.

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Amadi could eventually help address that shortage. Although he has previously been listed as a safety, he is likely to play nickel cornerback for the Broncos. His physical playing style could also prove useful against offenses using multiple tight ends, a personnel trend that has led Denver to adjust its defensive backfield this season.

McMillian has seen his playing time decrease somewhat as opponents have deployed heavier tight end formations. The Broncos have also increased the involvement of third safety Devon Key to counter those packages, particularly when defending the run. Amadi's size and physicality could offer another option in those situations if Denver elevates him from the practice squad, although his immediate promotion remains uncertain.