Tag: Alijah Holder

29 ex-Broncos players set to play in UFL this spring

The XFL and USFL merged to form the UFL. The new league will feature 29 former Broncos players, including Super Bowl champion Cody Latimer.

Two more former Denver Broncos were added to the UFL this week when the Memphis Showboats picked wide receiver Damion Willis and the Birmingham Stallions picked safety Alijah Holder in the 2024 dispersal draft. (Update: Holder was later traded to the San Antonio Brahmas.)

More players could be added through free agency, but as of today, there are 29 former Broncos players set to play in the spring league. The UFL was formed in late December when the XFL and USFL merged to create a new combined league.

The most notable ex-Denver player set to suit up in the UFL is Cody Latimer, a former Broncos wide receiver who won Super Bowl 50 in 2016. He has spent time with two other NFL teams and earned All-XFL honors with the Orlando Guardians last spring. Latimer is now a tight end with the San Antonio Brahmas.

Other names that Denver fans might recognize include punter Marquette King and 2022 preseason fan favorite running back Max Borghi. Here’s the full list of ex-Broncos signed up to play in the UFL this spring. The 2024 season will begin in March. 

Several ex-Lions hit the NFL’s tryout circuit this week

Danny Amendola and Kerryon Johnson were among the ex-Lions trying out for other teams this week

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While the Detroit Lions didn’t make any transactions on the NFL’s official log on Tuesday, several familiar names made appearances in the “tryouts” section.

Houston was apparently the place to be for ex-Lions on the tryout circuit. Two former Detroit players were auditioning for the Texans, most notably wide receiver Danny Amendola. The veteran slot receiver, a Houston-area native, was joined by CB Cre’von LeBlanc, who was with the Lions in 2018.

Running back Kerryon Johnson, fresh off his injury settlement with the Philadelphia Eagles, was in Las Vegas to work out for the Raiders. Safety Alijah Holder, who was cut by the Lions last week, was also in Las Vegas. One-time starting fullback Nick Bawden tried out for the Patriots.

None of the players were immediately signed by the respective teams. This is the first time Amendola, 35, has worked for any teams since his Lions contract expired after two years as Detroit’s starting slot receiver.

Lions waive-injured OT Tyrell Crosby among series of roster cuts

Offensive tackles Tyrell Crosby and Dan Skipper were each waived with injury status, ending their 2021 seasons in Detroit

The Detroit Lions got a sweeping start off on their roster cutdowns. The team made several moves on Monday in advance of the 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline to trim the active roster to 53.

After earlier releasing WR Breshad Perriman and CB Mike Ford, the Lions announced more cuts from head coach Dan Campbell prior to taking the practice field on Monday. The most notable is offensive tackle Tyrell Crosby, who was waived with injury designation.

Crosby was the team’s starting right tackle in 2020 and was projected to be the top reserve offensive lineman in 2021, but he’s battled an injury throughout training camp. He played poorly in the third preseason game, allowing an easy sack in the loss to the Indianapolis Colts.

Campbell did not mince words in talking about the decision to waive Crosby.

We didn’t feel like he was one of the best guys,” Campbell said.

The same fate befell offensive tackle Dan Skipper, who would have been the proverbial “next man up” behind Crosby. Skipper suffered a bad leg injury in Friday night’s preseason finale against Buffalo.

Both Crosby and Skipper will revert to the Lions’ injured reserve if they are not claimed by another team. They will not be eligible to return for Detroit in 2021.

The other players released on Monday:

  • WR Victor Bolden
  • DT Miles Brown
  • OL Evan Heim
  • WR Damion Ratley
  • S Alijah Holder

None of the players released are expected to be candidates for the Lions’ practice squad.

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Lions sign 3 players from rookie minicamp tryouts

All participated in the team’s rookie minicamp over the weekend

The Detroit Lions held on-field tryouts over the weekend for five players as part of the team’s rookie minicamp. Three of the five tryout players earned contracts with the team on Monday.

The team announced it has signed cornerback Alex Brown, safety Alijah Holder and tight end Charlie Taumoepeau off the tryouts. All three are NFL veterans who were not retained by their teams after the 2002 season.

Brown, a 170-pound slot corner, played for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019. He missed the 2020 season on injured reserve. He was a 2019 undrafted free agent signing by Kansas City out of South Carolina State.

Taumoepeau is in his second NFL season out of Portland State. He had stints with three different teams in 2020, never elevating above the practice squad. The 240-pounder was last with the San Francisco 49ers.

Holder’s signing with the team was previously reported by his agent. The former Broncos safety also has the potential to play some outside CB as well as on special teams.

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The Lions sign free agent safety Alijah Holder after tryout

Holder spent the last two seasons with the Denver Broncos

At least one of the players who participated in the Detroit Lions rookie minicamp on a tryout basis has earned a contract with the team. Per his agent, David Canter, the Lions have signed free agent safety Alijah Holder.

The third-year pro was one of five players working out with the Lions during rookie minicamp on tryouts. Holder played for the Denver Broncos in 2020, appearing in eight games while alternating between the active roster and practice squad. He’s played primarily on special teams in his two NFL seasons, both with the Broncos. The 6-2, 188-pounder played 43 reps on defense and 177 on special teams in 2020.

Holder entered the NFL after the 2019 draft as an undrafted free agent from Stanford. He was waived by the Broncos in February.

Broncos injuries: Graham Glasgow should return next week

Broncos guard Graham Glasgow (ankle) is expected to return to practice next week.

Broncos outside linebacker Bradley Chubb (knee), guard Graham Glasgow (ankle) and outside linebacker Von Miller were among six players who were held out of Wednesday’s practice. Denver coach Vic Fangio provided a status update for those players during his post-practice Zoom call.

“Von just had basically a vet day today,” Fangio said after practice. “I gave him the day off. Chubb’s the same. He’s getting better. He’ll be back out there soon. [Glasgow]’s getting better. I think we’ll see him next week out there.”

Meanwhile, Broncos cornerback Michael Ojemudia (quad), defensive back Alijah Holder (soft tissue) and wide receiver KJ Hamler (hamstring) were limited on Wednesday.

“They went through practice on a limited basis, did some individual,” Fangio said. “It’s kind of the natural progression, see how they did today and evaluate it for tomorrow and Friday.”

Ojemudia, Holder and Hamler returning — even on a limited basis — seems like a great sign. Denver has 12 more days to get healthy before Week 1.

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Broncos injuries: 11 players held out of practice Monday

The Broncos have been hit hard by injuries in the second week of training camp.

The Broncos have been hit hard by injuries in the second week of training camp.

Linebacker Justin Strnad had wrist surgery and will miss the entire season. In addition to Strnad, 10 other Denver players were held out of Monday’s practice.

WR KJ Hamler (hamstring), ILB Todd Davis (calf), WR Juwann Winfree (groin), CB Michael Ojemudia (quad), TE Austin Fort (knee), DB Alijah Holder (soft tissue), CB De’Vante Bausby (soft tissue), OLB Malik Carney (illness), WR Tim Patrick (soft tissue) and DL Mike Purcell (calf) were also sidelined.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio said he didn’t anticipate having this many soft tissue injuries during camp.

“I was not expecting that,” Fangio said. “I think there were some flaws in the way we set up the acclimation period along with the other stuff. It doesn’t do anybody any good to whine about it now. We just have to adjust and improvise and react to it, which we did.”

Denver adjusted Monday’s schedule and made it a lighter practice session. The Broncos’ season opener against the Titans is three weeks away so the team still has some time for players to get healthy.

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Denver Broncos depth chart prediction: Safety   

Which safeties will make the Broncos’ 53-man roster?

As we wrap up our 2020 depth chart prediction series for the Denver Broncos, today we’re going to be looking at the linebacker position.

Previously, we predicted QB, RB, TE, WR, OL, DL, LB and CB depth charts for the Broncos. Here’s a look at our safety prediction:

Justin Simmons Kareem Jackson
Douglas Coleman III Trey Marshall
Alijah Holder P.J. Locke
Kahani Smith

Last year, Denver carried two starters and two backup safeties on the initial 53-man roster. That will probably be the strategy again this year.

Marshall is the most experienced backup on the roster and he is the favorite to replace Will Parks as the team’s new No. 3 safety. That leaves four safeties competing for just one remaining spot in the back of the secondary.

Holder will have an experience edge over Coleman, which might give him an advantage in the competition. If he doesn’t make the active roster, Coleman will likely make the practice squad.

Right now, though, Coleman might be the favorite for the No. 4 job.

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Projecting Broncos’ secondary depth chart before the NFL draft

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ depth in the secondary going into the NFL draft.

With the 2020 NFL draft now just one week away, here’s a look at the Broncos’ projected secondary depth chart as it stands right now:

Cornerback Safety Safety Dime Cornerback
Bryce Callahan Kareem Jackson Justin Simmons Duke Dawson A.J. Bouye
Davontae Harris Trey Marshall Alijah Holder Shakial Taylor De’Vante Bausby
Isaac Yiadom P.J. Locke Kahani Smith Tyvis Powell

Denver has a pretty good group of starters but the team is lacking depth across the board. If any of the team’s starters are injured (like Callahan was last year), the secondary will suffer greatly.

After losing Chris Harris to the Chargers during free agency, the Broncos have a big hole at cornerback. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the team use one of their first picks in the draft on a cornerback.

Denver also needs more depth at safety. Simmons should be a reliable defensive back for years to come (assuming he agrees to a contract extension) but Jackson is 32 years old and will need to be replaced in the coming years.

The Broncos should target a cornerback early and add a safety in the mid-rounds of the draft next week. Denver will have 10 picks to use.

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Broncos’ updated cornerback depth chart after A.J. Bouye trade

After the Broncos agreed to trade for A.J. Bouye, Denver’s cornerback depth chart is starting to shape up.

The Broncos have agreed to trade a fourth-round pick to the Jaguars in exchange for cornerback A.J. Bouye. The deal won’t become official until March 18 but we can already start imagining what Denver’s secondary will look like after Bouye officially joins the roster.

The Broncos are not going to tender De’Vante Bausby but that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t bring him back. Denver should be able to re-sign Bausby for less than what a tender would cost. So with that in mind, we have Bausby as part of the depth chart even though he’s not under contract.

Chris Harris is not included on the depth chart, though. It’s possible that the Broncos could re-sign Harris but it appears unlikely to happen. Cyrus Jones and Davontae Harris seem to be candidates to be re-signed but they’re not on the current depth chart.

CB1: A.J. Bouye (6-0, 191 pounds) is entering his eighth season in the NFL and he seems to be a perfect fit for Vic Fangio’s defense. Bouye earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2017 after recording six interceptions and fans in Denver can only hope that he returns to top form under Fangio.

CB2: Bryce Callahan (5-9, 188 pounds) missed all of last season with a foot injury but Broncos fans shouldn’t overlook him. Callahan is doing better now than he was at this point last spring and he has experience playing under Fangio. In 2018, Callahan totaled two sacks and two interceptions.

CB3: De’Vante Bausby (6-2, 190 pounds) played in the AAF last spring before reuniting with Fangio in Denver (sensing a trend?). He emerged as a quality cornerback last season before suffering a scary injury. Bausby is now healthy again and could be a good CB3 or excellent CB4 in 2020.

CB4: Duke Dawson (5-10, 198 pounds) was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2018 draft and later traded to the Broncos for a late-round pick. He was a serviceable nickelback last season and should have no problem winning a rotational spot in the secondary this offseason.

CB5: Isaac Yiadom (6-1, 190 pounds) was selected by Denver in the third round of the 2018 draft and has failed to live up to his draft status since then. He can’t be relied on to be one of the team’s top cornerbacks but he could provide depth in 2020.

CB6: Shakial Taylor (6-0, 181 pounds) was claimed off waivers by the Broncos last November and didn’t dress for any games. Denver clearly saw something in him and wanted to stash him for the future. This offseason, Taylor will get a shot to prove he deserves some playing time.

CB7: Alijah Holder (6-2, 188 pounds) signed with the Broncos as a college free agent last spring and spent his rookie season on the practice squad. With Will Parks not expected to return, Holder might have a better chance to make the roster if he switches to safety.

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