The Denver Broncos will sign outside linebacker Anthony Chickillo off the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Broncos had an open spot on the 53-man roster after placing cornerback A.J. Bouye on injured reserve Wednesday. Bouye will be eligible to return after three weeks. After adding Chickillo, the 53-man roster will be full.
Unprotected practice squad players are eligible to leave their team if another team offers them a spot on the active roster. Chickillo was not one of New Orleans’ four protected players so Denver was allowed to sign him.
Chickillo (6-3, 255 pounds) entered the league as a sixth-round pick out of Miami with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015. He spent the first five years of his career in Pittsburgh before joining the Saints in May.
Chickillo served primarily as a rotational pass rusher and special teams contributor with the Steelers. He totaled 92 tackles, 7.5 sacks and three pass breakups from 2015-2019. Chickillo will likely have a similar role with the Broncos.
After placing Von Miller on injured reserve, Denver now has four outside linebackers on the active roster: Bradley Chubb, Jeremiah Attaochu, Malik Reed and Chickillo. The Broncos also have two backup outside linebackers — Derrek Tuszka and Isaiah Irving — on the 16-man practice squad.
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