ENGLEWOOD — Rookie tight end Dallen Bentley was at home in his apartment when the phone rang.

The Broncos were calling. Bentley, a seventh-round draft selection, picked up on the afternoon of the NFL’s roster-cut deadline to 53 players. He made the team.

“Probably a couple of minutes before the designated time, I got a call from coach Payton,” Bentley told The Denver Gazette. “It was really cool. A lot of relief.”

The Broncos elected to keep four tight ends on their active roster with Evan Engram, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins and Bentley. It’s more impressive when you consider who didn’t make the cut.

Broncos fifth-round draft pick tight end Justin Joly was claimed by the Dolphins after being waived. Denver also cut fifth-year tight end Lucas Krull before he re-signed to the Broncos practice squad. How did Bentley separate himself from the pack?

“I just came every day ready to work as hard as I can,” Bentley said. “Just try to learn from the older guys, every little thing that I could. I was just very lucky and fortunate that I was able to secure that spot. It’s something I’m going to continue to work on. Continue to learn from the older guys and take every opportunity I can get.

“What separated me? I don’t know. I just did everything I could.”

Engram described the playbook as a “difficult offense to learn, especially as a rookie” in Denver. That’s why the veteran tight end was so impressed with Bentley on his ascension to making the 53-man roster.

“It was well deserved,” Engram said. “I thought that Dallen had an amazing camp. … As a rookie tight end, this offense is a lot to learn. It’s a lot to pick up and is a lot to play fast with. I thought he did a great job, and I told him that it was well deserved. The real work starts now. I just want to be any type of help I can be for him. I’ve experienced a lot, and I enjoy passing down those experiences.”

Bentley detailed the study habits that allowed him to thrive.

“My first couple of months here, up until this last week, every spare second I’ve got was in the playbook,” Bentley said. “Then obviously going out there and getting those reps was really important, too. Just step by step, trying to take it all in.”

The Broncos selected Bentley at No. 256 overall (the next-to-last pick) in the NFL draft out of Utah. He was primarily a blocking tight end as a sophomore and junior over 18 game appearances with the Utes. A breakout senior season elevated Bentley into a legitimate NFL prospect.

Bentley logged 48 receptions for 620 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged nearly 13 yards per catch. Bentley also touts elite traits as a blocker at 6-foot-4 and 253 pounds. He’s still acclimating to increased physicality in the NFL.

“I think I’ve made a lot of improvements. I’ve got some really good examples in the tight end room that I’ve been learning a lot from. Coach (Austin King) is really great on all that stuff and technique. I’ve been really taking that to heart,” Bentley said. “I’m ready to do whatever. I think it’s really beneficial when you can go out there and do whatever is asked of you. I’m just trying to be the best in both worlds.”

Bentley is grateful to find a home in Broncos Country.

“The culture here is phenomenal,” Bentley said. “Everybody comes ready to work. Everybody is super close-knit. Everybody knows what the goal is. We’re not going to settle for less than that.”