Broncos sign linebacker to practice squad

The Broncos have signed linebacker K.J. Cloyd to their practice squad.

The Denver Broncos have found their Kwon Alexander replacement.

The Broncos signed linebacker K.J. Cloyd to their 17-player practice squad on Tuesday, the team announced. Denver had room for Cloyd after Alexander left the practice squad to join the Detroit Lions’ active roster on Nov. 29.

Cloyd (6-2, 215 pounds) entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Miami with the Minnesota Vikings this spring. He later joined the New York Giants and impressed in preseason, but he surprisingly did not make their 53-man roster.

Cloyd was initially signed to New York’s practice squad, only to be waived before the season started to make room for defensive back Gevarrius Owens.

Cloyd totaled 44 tackles, two sacks and one pass breakup in 13 games with the Hurricanes last fall. Before that, he spent three years at Louisville.

Denver now has four inside linebackers on the active roster — Cody Barton, Justin Strnad, Zach Cunningham and Levelle Bailey — and one linebacker (Cloyd) on the practice squad. It remains to be seen if Drew Sanders will play at ILB or OLB this fall.

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