Saints Re-Sign DB Ugo Amadi
The Saints have re-signed defensive back Ugo Amadi to a one-year deal, per a team announcement.
Amadi spent the last two seasons in New Orleans, primarily playing special teams in 2023 before emerging as a starting slot corner midway through the 2024 season. He finished the year with five starts and 527 snaps on defense, both his most since 2021. His 65 tackles, 2.0 sacks, and six tackles for loss all represented career-highs.
The seven-year veteran will enter the 2025 season in pole position to continue as the Saints’ starting nickel. He took over the role in Week 8 when Alontae Taylor moved outside to replace an injured Paulson Adebo. Now that Adebo has signed with the Giants, Taylor is a candidate to continue starting on the boundary with Amadi staying in the slot.
The Saints did sign veteran corner Isaac Yiadom to a three-year deal, so he could compete for a starting job on the outside and potentially push Taylor back into the slot. In that case, Amadi would likely provide depth across the Saints’ secondary as a backup nickel and rotational safety, his listed position on the team website.
Amadi was originally drafted by the Seahawks in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He appeared in 47 games with 12 starts across his first three years in Seattle before being traded to the Eagles during training camp in 2022. He was then dealt to the Titans less than two weeks later and played in two regular season games before being waived. He spent the rest of the season on the Chiefs’ practice squad and finished with a Super Bowl victory.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/26/24
Saturdays minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: DL Ben Stille, CB Divaad Wilson
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: CB Natrone Brooks, DE Demone Harris
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
- Elevated: CB Bump Cooper Jr.
- Placed on IR: CB T.J. Tampa
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: DT Eli Ankou, WR Jalen Virgil
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: RB Travis Homer, DE Jacob Martin
- Elevated: S Tarvarius Moore
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: CB Amani Oruwariye
- Elevated: RB Dalvin Cook (story)
- Placed on IR: TE John Stephens (story)
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Kwon Alexander, G Calvin Throckmorton
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad, TE Shane Zylstra
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: CB Robert Rochell
Houston Texans
- Elevated: FB Troy Hairston
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Montrell Washington
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: QB Carter Bradley, TE Justin Shorter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Jaylen Johnson, WR Jalen Reagor
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Ochaun Mathis
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: S Ugo Amadi
- Elevated: WR Equanimeous St. Brown, S Roderic Teamer
- Waived: RB Jordan Mims
New York Jets
- Elevated: OL Alec Lindstrom, S Jarius Monroe
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: WR Ainias Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Adrian Amos, K Anders Carlson
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: S Jerrick Reed II
- Elevated: CB Faion Hicks, CB Josh Jobe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: WR Rakim Jarrett
- Elevated: QB Michael Pratt
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, WR Mason Kinsey, T John Ojukwu
- Elevated: RB Joshua Kelley, QB Trevor Siemian
- Placed on IR: T Jaelyn Duncan
- Waived: OLB Caleb Murphy
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/24
Saturday’s minor transactions and gameday practice squad callups:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: T Jackson Barton
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: CB Ka’dar Hollman, RB John Kelly
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: TE Feleipe Franks
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: TE Princeton Fant, LB Nick Vigil
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: RB Tyler Badie, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: WR Tom Kennedy, WR Tim Patrick
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: QB Sean Clifford
Houston Texans
- Elevated: CB D’Angelo Ross
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: DE Genard Avery, S Ronnie Harrison
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: CB Christian Braswell
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, CB Sam Webb
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: S Tony Jefferson, LB Shaquille Quarterman
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: RB Myles Gaskin, DL Jonah Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: S Ugo Amadi, LB Isaiah Stalbird
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Tomon Fox, LB Ty Summers
- Placed on IR: WR Gunner Olszewski
New York Jets
- Elevated: DE Jalyn Holmes
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Tracy Walker
- Placed on IR: RB Christian McCaffrey (story)
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: T McClendon Curtis, RB George Holani
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: DT C.J. Brewer, DL Mike Greene
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: LB Luke Gifford
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: LB Nick Bellore
- Elevated: CB Bobby Price, DE Carlos Watkins
Patrick was among the Broncos’ final roster cuts after a Saints trade was discussed. The 30-year-old missed the 2022 and ’23 campaigns due to ACL and Achilles tears, respectively. Patrick did not need to wait long to find a new opportunity, though, quickly landing a practice squad deal with the Lions. He is now positioned make his season debut tomorrow as a complementary option in Detroit’s passing attack.
Olszewski is dealing with a groin injury and he was known to be facing a long-term absence. Today’s move thus comes as no surprise, but it ensures at least a four-week absence. The former All-Pro scored a punt return touchdown with Pittsburgh early last season and added another during his 10-game Giants stretch to close out the year. The team will need to rely on other options in the return game for the time being.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC South
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints moves are noted below.
Atlanta Falcons
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Chris Blair, CB Natrone Brooks, S Dane Cruikshank, OL Julién Davenport, WR Dylan Drummond, TE John FitzPatrick, DL Demone Harris, CB Kevin King, DT Zion Logue, DL LaCale London, WR Jesse Matthews, OL Andrew Stueber, RB Carlos Washington Jr.
Carolina Panthers
Signed:
Claimed:
- CB Shemar Bartholomew, CB Tariq Castro-Fields, CB Keenan Isaac, LB Jon Rhattigan, LB Jamie Sheriff
Waived:
- WR Jalen Coker
Waived from IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- G Mason Brooks, RB Mike Boone, S Alex Cook, LB Kenny Dyson, TE Jordan Matthews, QB Jack Plummer, DL T.J. Smith, DL Walter Palmore, LB Chandler Wooten
New Orleans Saints
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- S Johnathan Abram, S Ugo Amadi, WR Kevin Austin, S Millard Bradford, LB Isaiah Stalbird, TE Treyton Welch
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- S Marcus Banks, DL C.J. Brewer, DL Mike Greene, LB Antonio Grier, OLB Daniel Grzesiak, OL Luke Haggard, LB Vi Jones, QB Michael Pratt, WR Sterling Shepard, TE Tanner Taula, P Seth Vernon, RB D.J. Williams, S Rashad Wisdom
Saints Place RB Kendre Miller On IR, Reduce Squad To 53
Here is how the Saints moved their roster down to the regular-season 53-man limit:
Released:
- S Johnathan Abram
- S Ugo Amadi
- OL Tremayne Anchrum
- OL Jesse Davis
- LB Andrew Dowell
- LB Khaleke Hudson
- G Shane Lemieux
- WR Stanley Morgan Jr.
- RB James Robinson
- WR Equanimeous St. Brown
- S Roderic Teamer
- CB Joejuan Williams
Waived:
- WR Kelvin Austin Jr.
- S Millard Bradford
- WR Shaq Davis
- OL Mark Evans
- T Josiah Ezirim
- TE Mason Fairchild
- P Lou Hedley
- DT Jack Heflin
- G Kyle Hergel
- TE Michael Jacobson
- DB Shemar Jean-Charles
- S Lawrence Johnson
- RB Jacob Kibodi
- DE Nico Lalos
- CB Mac McCain
- WR Samson Nacua
- LB Monty Rice
- LB Mike Rose
- K Charlie Smyth
- LB Isaiah Stalbird
Placed on IR:
- DT Cameron Peterson
- TE Kevin Rader
- CB Rejzohn Wright
Placed on IR/return designation:
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
- DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
- LB Nephi Sewell
A host of vested vets are off the Saints’ roster, and Miller will be for a stretch as well. Miller has been down with a hamstring injury for several weeks, suffering the setback minutes into the team’s initial training camp workout. This lingering into the regular season is a concerning development for both parties. Hamstring trouble limited Miller late last summer as well. The Saints still roster Jamaal Williams behind Alvin Kamara, but they used a third-round pick on Miller last year. The TCU alum logged 41 carries as a rookie, but a new OC (Klint Kubiak) is now calling the shots.
Kpassagnon sustained an Achilles tear early this offseason, and he will miss at least four games. Rookie UDFA Mason Tipton made the roster over St. Brown, while offseason pickup Will Harris secured a spot over Abram. The Saints kept Lucas Patrick and Oli Udoh over Davis and Lemieux, who had been attempting to bounce back from an injury-plagued Giants tenure.
Saints Sign OT Oli Udoh
The Saints have added some depth on the offensive line. The team announced that they’ve agreed to terms with offensive tackle Oli Udoh.
The former sixth-round pick spent five seasons with the Vikings to begin his career, appearing in 43 games. He only got an extended look during one of the those campaigns, starting 16 games for Minnesota in 2021. He landed back on the bench in 2022, starting one game (plus a playoff start) while appearing in only 131 offensive snaps.
Udoh re-signed with the Vikings last offseason and earned a starting nod in Week 2. However, he suffered a quad injury in that game, ending his season after only two appearances.
The Saints will be counting on Udoh to provide some depth in 2024. Ryan Ramczyk will be back in the starting lineup, but the team is currently eyeing one of Udoh, Trevor Penning, Landon Young, and Tommy Kraemer for the other starting tackle spot.
The Saints also made a move of the defensive side of the ball, re-signing safety Ugo Amadi. The former Seahawks draft pick spent the 2022 campaign bouncing between the Eagles, Titans, and Chiefs practice squads. He caught on with the Saints last offseason and proceeded to get into all 17 games, collecting 12 tackles while garnering the majority of his snaps on special teams.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/7/23
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Suspended two games: S Sean Chandler; DB violated NFL’s substance-abuse policy
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: QB E.J. Perry
Miami Dolphins
- Released: TE Cethan Carter
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Ugo Amadi
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/12/22
Here are the minor roster moves in anticipation for Sunday’s slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: S Charles Washington
- Promoted from practice squad: OL Rashaad Coward
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Gerri Green, CB Harrison Hand
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: T Quinn Bailey, DE Jonathan Harris
Detroit Lions
- Activated from reserve/PUP: FB Jason Cabinda
- Signed to active roster: TE Shane Zylstra
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Stanley Berryhill, LB Jarrad Davis
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: K Ramiz Ahmed, LB Ladarius Hamilton
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: S Ugochukwu Amadi
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Kyle Peko
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: RB Larry Rountree
- Promoted from practice squad: K Cameron Dicker, T Foster Sarell
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: S Verone McKinley III
- Promoted from practice squad: T Kion Smith
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Nick Muse
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: G Josh Andrews
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Jordan Howard, CB Bryce Thompson
New York Giants
- Activated of reserve/PUP: T Matt Peart
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Lawrence Cager, DL Henry Mondeaux
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT T.Y. McGill
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Vi Jones
- Placed on IR: FB/OLB Cullen Gillaspia
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Ulysees Gilbert, CB Ryan Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Larrell Murchison, WR C.J. Board
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/3/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Isaiah Coulter
- Released: S Jared Mayden
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Devine Ozigbo
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Patrick Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: S Ugo Amadi
- Released: WR Dazz Newsome
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Malik Turner
- Placed on injured list: DE Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: K Cameron Dicker
- Placed on injured list: K Taylor Bertolet
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Bryce Thompson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LB Nathan Gerry
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/22
Today’s minor transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: CB Daryl Worley
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: DT Domenique Davis, WR Trenton Irwin
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: CB Thomas Graham Jr., CB Herb Miller
- Promoted: LB Dakota Allen, TE Miller Forristall
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): G Blake Hance
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return: TE Stone Smartt
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: WR Willie Snead
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: DB Ugo Amadi
