K.J. Cloyd – Syndication Server

Broncos’ updated 17-player practice squad with new linebacker

After adding K.J. Cloyd, here’s a look at the Broncos’ updated 17-player practice squad.

After losing linebacker Kwon Alexander to the Detroit Lions, the Denver Broncos filled his former spot on the practice squad by signing K.J. Cloyd on Tuesday.

The NFL’s standard practice squad size limit is 16 players, but there’s an exception that allows an extra international player to not count against the limit. For Denver, Australian tight end Thomas Yassmin is an exception, giving the Broncos a 17-player practice squad.

So here’s the full list of 17 players on the squad after the recent moves.

Broncos 17-player practice squad

Two players can be elevated from the practice squad to the game-day roster each week.

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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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6 players had tryouts with Broncos on Friday

The Denver Broncos brought in six players for tryouts on Friday — two linebackers, two defensive backs and two offensive linemen.

The Denver Broncos brought in six players for tryouts on Friday, according to the NFL’s transaction wire (via KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis).

The Broncos worked out two linebackers, two defensive backs and two offensive linemen. Here’s a quick review of the six players.

Linebacker Michael Barrett (6-0, 239 pounds) was picked by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of this year’s NFL draft out of Michigan. He was traded to the Seattle Seahawks this summer and then cut by Seattle. Barrett then had a brief stint on the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns.

Linebacker K.J. Cloyd (6-2, 228 pounds) went undrafted out of Miami this spring. He had brief stints with the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants.

Offensive lineman Matt Farniok (6-5, 316 pounds) was picked by the Dallas Cowboys in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Nebraska. The guard/center dressed for 19 games for the Cowboys in two seasons, appearing in two games in 2022. He spent time on the practice squads of the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions in 2023.

Offensive lineman Brady Latham (6-5, 304 pounds) signed with the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas this spring. He suffered a freak injury during the offseason when a hunting knife fell out of its sheath and wounded his calf. The guard-turned-center did not make New York’s roster.

Defensive back Keenan Isaac (6-2, 190 pounds) signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of Alabama State in 2023. The cornerback dressed for two games as a rookie and then had a brief stint with the Panthers before returning to the Bucs. Isaac dressed for five games this fall before being waived earlier this week.

Defensive back Jaylen Key (6-2, 210 pounds) was picked by the Jets in the seventh round of this year’s NFL draft out of Alabama. The safety started his rookie season on New York’s practice squad before being released in October.

Broncos tryout players

LB Michael Barrett
LB K.J. Cloyd
DB Keenan Isaac
DB Jaylen Key
OL Matt Farniok
OL Brady Latham

Denver’s 53-man roster and 17-player practice squad are both full. The Broncos might be looking at candidates for future contract signings after the 2024 season.

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Giants sign Gervarrius Owens to practice squad, release K.J. Cloyd

The New York Giants continued to tweak their practice squad on Friday, bringing back former draft pick Gervarrius Owens.

The New York Giants added defensive back Gevarrius Owens, their 2023 seventh-round draft pick who spent last year with the team, to the practice squad.

To make room for Owens, the Giants released preseason hero K..J. Cloyd.

Owens played in three games for the Giants in 2023 but spent the majority of the season on their practice squad.

This summer, Owens was sidelined for the final two weeks of training camp with a knee issue.

Cloyd was expendable after the Giants added Curtis Bolton to the 53-man roster and Ty Summers to the practice squad.

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Giants vs. Jets Player of the Game: K.J. Cloyd

The New York Giants fell to the New York Jets, 10-6, on Saturday night and rookie linebacker K.J. Cloyd is our Player of the Game.

It was a night to forget for the New York Giants as they wrapped up the 2024 preseason with a 10-6 loss to the New York Jets on Saturday at MetLife Stadium.

With most starters sitting this one out, the Giants struggled in all three phases of the game, displaying a lack of depth that should concern general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll.

However, one diamond in the rough did emerge via rookie linebacker K.J. Cloyd.

The 23-year-old Cloyd recorded a game-high 16 tackles (eight solo, two for a loss) and displayed impressive leadership properties in the second half. He helped fellow defenders get lined up properly, making them aware of their assignment, while also serving as a motivator.

While his spark didn’t infect the team in the way he had hoped, Cloyd served himself well and really gave the Giants something to think about when it comes to final cuts on Tuesday.

“He was active,” Daboll said of Cloyd after the game. “Again, there’s a lot of discussions we need to have tonight and over the next couple of days, we’ve had a bunch of them. But certainly when guys play well, you go ahead and re-evaluate and make sure you’re doing the right thing. Whether that’s the active roster or practice squad, all those decisions will be made.”

If Cloyd didn’t secure a spot on the 53-man roster, he deserves strong consideration for the practice squad… if the Giants can hide him there.

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Giants sign linebacker K.J. Cloyd

The New York Giants have signed undrafted rookie free agent LB K.J. Cloyd and waived DB Kaleb Hayes.

On Monday, the New York Giants announced the signing of undrafted rookie free agent linebacker K.J. Cloyd.

The 6-foot-2, 228-pound Cloyd briefly signed with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason but was unable to secure a roster spot. He will now be given a chance with the Giants and defensive coordinator Shane Bowen.

Cloyd, 23, was a fifth-year senior at Louisville, spending four total seasons with the Cardinals. Before that, he played one year in JUCO ball at Jones Community College.

Over his four seasons in Louisville, Cloyd recorded 84 tackles (seven for a loss), 2.0 sacks, one fumble recovery, and three passes defensed in 49 games.

In a corresponding roster move, the Giants released defensive back Kaleb Hayes.

Hayes initially signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a rookie free agent following the 2023 NFL draft. He was cut at the end of training camp and scooped up by the Giants before spending the entirety of last season on the team’s practice squad.

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