Broncos leave primetime TV slot and make a handful of roster moves

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos made six roster moves early this week:

• They waived running back Devine Ozigbo on Monday.
  
• They signed cornerback Lamar Jackson, outside linebacker Harvey Langi and Ozigbo to their practice squad on Tuesday and Wednesday.
  
• They released running back Tyreik McAllister and wide receiver Kaden Davis from their practice squad on Tuesday.
  
• Also, the NFL flexed the Broncos-Chiefs game on Dec. 11 out of Sunday Night Football and into the afternoon timeslot.
  

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Ahead of a matchup with the Ravens on Sunday, the Broncos added a Lamar Jackson of their own.

Cornerback Lamar Jackson, 24, entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie out of Nebraska in 2020. He began his rookie season on the practice squad before his promotion to the active roster. He played in 13 games and started six as a rookie.

Jackson only played in one game in his second season while sitting on the Jets’ practice squad.

Jackson signed with the Bears this offseason and played in five games but was released on Saturday. He cleared waivers and signed with the Broncos practice squad.

At 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Jackson has played almost exclusively on the boundary in the NFL. The Broncos activated rookie cornerback Faion Hicks to play against the Panthers last weekend. Jackson may jump ahead of him on the priority list.

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Running back Devine Ozigbo earned a 53-man roster spot last week after spending the season on the Broncos’ practice squad, but he was waived on Monday. Ozigbo returned to the Broncos’ practice squad on Wednesday, filling in for Tyreik McAllister, who was released on Tuesday. McAllister was with the Broncos in the offseason and re-joined the team last week after the Broncos released Melvin Gordon. Gordon has since signed with the Chiefs’ practice squad, meaning the Broncos could see him again at some point this season.

Ozigbo, 26, has played in 25 games for three different teams during his four-year NFL career.

Running back Mike Boone is on track to begin practicing this week after a high ankle sprain sent him to injured reserve. The Broncos currently have an open spot on the 53-man roster following Ozigbo’s release and if it isn’t filled by the end of the week, that could be a sign that Boone is ready to be activated against the Ravens.

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Harvey Langi, 30, is back on the Broncos’ practice squad after being waived last week. The linebacker has played in 41 games with 10 starts in his six-year NFL career.

Langi joined the Broncos’ practice squad last month to provide veteran depth and was elevated to play in the game against the Raiders. He was released shortly thereafter but joined the Broncso on Wednesday after a week apart.

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Rookie wide receiver Kaden Davis was notable during training camp for almost always being the first player on the field during practice. He didn’t make the team but re-joined the Broncos as a practice squad player earlier this month. He was released from the practice squad on Tuesday.

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The Broncos were scheduled to host the Kansas City Chiefs under the lights on Sunday Night Football on Dec. 11, but the NFL chose to flex the Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers into that timeslot instead. The Broncos-Chiefs game will now be played at 2:05 p.m.

The decision to knock the Broncos out of primetime comes as no surprise, given their lackluster performances on the national stage so far this year. Still, dragging the Super Bowl favorites and likely MVP Patrick Mahomes out of the premiere timeslot is still a tall task.

“When you don’t win, things like that are going to happen,” head coach Nathaniel Hackett said on Wednesday.