Broncos had 3 eligible first-year players at rookie minicamp (here's why)

TL;DR

The Denver Broncos had three eligible first-year players at rookie minicamp, including Nash Jones, Caleb Lohner, and Jordan Miller. These players are invited to gain experience ahead of OTAs and mandatory minicamp in June.

Key points

Denver Broncos had 60 players at rookie minicamp
Three players designated as first-year players
Nash Jones, Caleb Lohner, and Jordan Miller invited for more reps
Players must spend six games on active roster to accrue a season
Coach Sean Payton explained the league rule on eligibility

Mentioned in this story

Texas StateUtahSMU

Denver BroncosNash JonesCaleb LohnerJordan Miller

The Denver Broncos had 60 players at rookie minicamp last weekend, including three eligible "first-year" players who were invited to get more reps ahead of organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp in June.

The three designated first-year players were guard Nash Jones, tight end Caleb Lohner and defensive lineman Jordan Miller. To have an accrued season in the NFL, a player needs to spend at least six games on an active roster, injured reserve or PUP list. Jones, Lohner and Miller do not meet that criteria, so the league lists them as first-year players.

"It’s really a league rule based on pension credits," coach Sean Payton explained on Saturday. "So every year, I’ll get the list: here are the five eligible [players]. We may have all five of them invited. I think we have three or four."

Jones entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Texas State last year and spent part of his rookie season on Denver's practice squad. Lohner is a former basketball player who was picked by the Broncos in the seventh round of last year's NFL draft out of Utah. Lohner spent last season on the practice squad. Miller signed with Denver as a UDFA out of SMU in 2024, spending the last two years on the team's practice squad.

Q&A

Who are the first-year players at the Denver Broncos rookie minicamp?

The first-year players at the Broncos rookie minicamp are Nash Jones, Caleb Lohner, and Jordan Miller.

What qualifies a player as a first-year player in the NFL?

A player is considered a first-year player in the NFL if they have not spent at least six games on an active roster, injured reserve, or PUP list.

Why were only three players eligible for the Broncos rookie minicamp?

Only three players were eligible because they do not meet the criteria for an accrued season, which requires spending at least six games on the active roster or similar status.