TE · DEN · 27 yrs · exp 3 · South Carolina
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The Denver Broncos have an exciting group of rookies entering training camp. While many will be vying for practice squad spots, some have the potential to challenge for starting roles. Tight end Justin Joly is highlighted as a player who, despite not likely unseating starters Adam Trautman or Evan Engram, could earn significant playing time and a spot on the depth chart
One big question for the Denver Broncos in 2026 is how well their group of tight ends will perform. Last season, the group failed to impress as a whole, and high-profile free agent acquisition Evan Engram didn’t live up to the ‘Joker’ billing touted about him all offseason long. Even so, the Broncos brought back virtually everyone at the position group from last season for a chance to compete for a roster spot in this summer. One of those players is Nate Adkins who is entering his fourth year in the National Football League. A former FCS standout from East Tennessee State, Adkins finished his five-year collegiate career with the South Carolina Gamecocks. A longshot to make the Broncos’ squad in 2023 as an undrafted free agent, Adkins’ positional versatility, blocking ability, and special teams’ prowess earned him a spot on the final 53-man roster. After an impressive second season with the Broncos in 2024, his overall impact was limited in 2025 due to missing nearly half of the season after a knee injury late in Denver ’s win against the Dallas Cowboys . With some new players added to the position group can Adkins find a way to make the roster for a fourth straight season? Let’s discuss. Age: 26 | Experience: Fourth Year | College: South Carolina | Height: 6’3” | Weight: 252 pounds Arm Length : 31-3/8” | Hand Size: 9” | Vertical : 31” | Broad Jump: 10’ | Bench: 14 reps 40-Yard Dash : 4.87 seconds | 3-Cone: 7.33 seconds | 20-Yard Shuttle: 4.40 seconds 2025 Statistics : 9 games played, 6 starts. 6 catches on 11 targets for 48 yards and 1 touchdown. 199 offensive snaps, 46 special teams’ snaps. In 2024, Adkins played in all 17 regular season games and had 14 receptions for 115 yards and three touchdowns. Last year, he notched just 6 receptions for 48 yards and only one touchdown. He saw 33-percent of Denver’s offensive snaps in the 9 games he played last season but had a career low 46 snaps (18-percent) on special teams. The Broncos extended Adam Trautman and have Evan Engram slated to be their move tight end. This past April, they added Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley to the tight end room on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft. Additionally, Lucas Krull and Caleb Lohner will also be challenging for a roster spot. In my opinion, Adkins isn’t a lock for the final 53-man roster. Given Joly’s status as a fourth-round draft pick, I’d say he is a far safer bet to make the roster as a third tight end for the Broncos. Even if the Broncos opt to have four active tight ends on the roster, the fourth-year pro will have to perform well during training camp and preseason to earn a spot on this year’s squad. Adkins’ ability to line up at multiple spots and perform well on special teams go in his favor. Additionally, he has a strong knowledge of the playbook giving him an edge against some of the other younger players mentioned. Perhaps Adkins’ true battle to make the final 53 isn’t a tight end numbers game, but a question on whether or not the Broncos’ brass believe he could replace fullback Adam Prentice ’s role on the squad
Broncos tight end Caleb Lohner will miss the rest of the offseason program after a cleanup surgery, Mike Klis of 9News reports. The body part is specified only as lower body. Lohner is expected to be ready for training camp. The Broncos made him a seventh-round pick in 2025. He was primarily a basketball player before transitioning to football in 2024 when he caught four touchdowns for Utah. Lohner spent last season on Denver’s practice squad but did not play in the regular season. The Broncos elevated him to the game-day roster for the divisional round game against the Bills, but he ended up being inactive. The Broncos have Evan Engram, Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins on the depth chart ahead of Lohner, and the team drafted Justin Joy, so Lohner has his work cut out for him to make the roster
Broncos tight end Caleb Lohner will miss the rest of the offseason program after a cleanup surgery, Mike Klis of 9News reports. The body part is specified only as lower body. Lohner is expected to be ready for training camp. The Broncos made him a seventh-round pick in 2025. He was primarily a basketball player before transitioning to football in 2024 when he caught four touchdowns for Utah. Lohner spent last season on Denver 's practice squad but did not play in the regular season. The Broncos elevated him to the game-day roster for the divisional round game against the Bills, but he ended up being inactive. The Broncos have Evan Engram , Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins on the depth chart ahead of Lohner, and the team drafted Justin Joy, so Lohner has his work cut out for him to make the roster
According to 9NEWS Denver’s Mike Klis, Broncos tight end Caleb Lohner underwent a routine lower-body procedure and will miss the next two weeks of OTA and minicamp practices. However, Klis notes that Lohner is expected to be full-go by the start of training camp. Multiple media members who attended last week’s practice noted that Lohner was among the players not participating, and some were speculating whether he suffered an injury or not. Well, now we know he underwent a lower-body procedure and will be sidelined until the start of training camp. This is a small setback for Lohner, who drew praise from head coach Sean Payton earlier this spring when he, out of the blue, went out of his way to praise Lohner and his development. This put the former 7th-round developmental tight end on the radar of players who could have breakout performances this spring/summer, but this is certainly a step in the wrong direction. Lohner needs all the snaps and reps he can get, so missing out on two weeks of practice and development isn’t great. With that said, he still has all of training camp and the preseason to continue making his case for a roster spot and obviously already has the attention of the head coach. So, all is not lost for Lohner and his quest for a spot on the Broncos’ 53-man roster. With Lohner sidelined, all eyes will be on the two Broncos rookie tight ends, Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley. Both are competing for roles and potentially a roster spot(Joly is probably a lock) and are competing with Caleb Lohner for a role and roster spot with the Broncos. These two weeks will give them a chance to possibly separate themselves from Lohner before he eventually returns for the start of training camp. The competition behind veteran tight ends Evan Engram and Adam Trautman is going to be one of the more intriguing aspects of Broncos training camp. You have a developmental project in Lohner, two rookies in Joly and Bentley, a blocking specialist in Nate Adkins , and Lucas Krull . We’ll see how it all shakes out moving forward, but in the short-term, Caleb Lohner will be sidelined these next few weeks but will be ready for the start of training camp later next month
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