ENGLEWOOD — The dog days of Broncos training camp are nothing compared to the Air Force training of defensive lineman Jordan Jackson.

“There are definitely harder things out there in life than football,” Jackson told The Denver Gazette.

Like Air Force survival training.

In the summer of 2018, before his sophomore football season, Jackson said he joined a group of cadets who packed “a rucksack with clothes and camping materials” and proceeded to “march out into the back woods” surrounding the Air Force campus in Colorado Springs.

“There’s one day where they teach you how to skin a rabbit and cook a rabbit,” Jackson said. “It’s a week of being out there with no shower … and they’re teaching you different things. You have a shooting class and different camping things.”

Jackson persevered to complete his mission.

It’s a common thread that explains his improbable rise with the Broncos.

He enters Year 2 with the team after making his first 53-man NFL roster last season. No easy task in a stacked position group. In Week 18, against the Kansas City Chiefs at Empower Field, Jackson recorded his first career sack against reserve quarterback Chris Oladokun.

Happy Birthday to No. 9⃣4⃣ Jordan Jackson! Jackson, a DL, had a terrific training camp and preseason in 2024, making the active roster after being on the practice squad in 2023. His first career sack came, while wearing throwbacks, in front of the home fans. pic.twitter.com/K8LitJabkE

— Mile High Moments (@MileHighMoments) January 31, 2025

“It’s kind of crazy,” Jackson said. “Because I thought he threw the ball when I sacked him. I had no idea. But everybody was celebrating. I was like: ‘Oh, I got it!’ It was kind of dope. … That was amazing to be able to get that done. They say when you get one, that’s when they start rolling in. So, hopefully, they start coming now.”

Jackson’s football journey started in Jacksonville, Fla., where his moving military family found roots. Jackson lettered four years in football at Bolles High School and became an All-State honorable mention defensive lineman as a senior.

“My mom was military. So, when I was growing up, I’m like: ‘OK, I’m not going to do the military,’” Jackson recalled. “Coming out of high school, I had an offer from Air Force and Navy. A couple schools like Tulane, App State and Middle Tennessee. I still really didn’t know what I wanted to do. I took my official visit (to Air Force), and I just loved it. … I didn’t know if the league was going to be a thing for me, actually. But once they started talking about having a job after school, and the chance to still play football, it just made the most sense.”

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Jackson exceeded his own football expectations.

He closed his Air Force career among the all-time program leaders in tackles for loss (29.5) and sacks (15.5). The Saints selected Jackson at No. 194 overall (sixth round) in the 2022 NFL draft. But he failed to make the 53-man roster and spent the season on New Orleans’ practice squad. That’s when Jackson discovered more opportunity in Denver.

“I knew the Broncos were interested in me coming out of college. They had come down to the Springs a few times. I talked to them a few times when I was down at the academy,” Jackson said. “After the season, my agent let me know the Broncos might be a good fit for me. George (Paton) had been following me throughout my whole career. So, I just thought it made the most sense to be over to come over here and play.”

Success didn’t happen overnight.

Jackson spent 2023 on Denver’s practice squad. But a year of learning paid dividends. Jackson broke through last preseason, in their final game against the Cardinals, when he logged two sacks in the first quarter. Jackson finally made the 53-man roster.

He finished the season with 17 combined tackles. Jackson played on 27% of all defensive snaps (310 total) and 35% of all special teams snaps (164 total). Significant progress from his days on the practice squad.

“I think it was just work,” Jackson said. “Trying to find ways to be better. Leaning on some of the guys here. You have guys like Zach Allen, John Franklin-Myers, Malcolm Roach and D.J. Jones. They pushed me to be better.”

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Jackson is focused on taking another step forward in 2025 with improved run stopping and pass rush. But another life plan awaits when football ends. The Air Force has deferred his required five-year military commitment. Jackson graduated with a degree in civil engineering.

“The Air Force did a great job with it. They check on me every month to make sure I’m good. I fill some stuff out every year and let them know what I’m doing in the community and stuff like that. But they’re awesome,” Jackson said. “Right now, they’re kind of just letting me live out my dream to play football. When it’s time to go back, I haven’t thought about it too much yet. It’s kind of something all the guys ask me: ‘When you go back, what are you going to do?’

“I’m not really sure. It’s whatever they need me to do when I go back.”

The Air Force shaped Jackson to handle any NFL adversity that he might encounter.

“Going through stuff in the Air Force and in life makes you realize how amazing it is to come out here and play football,” Jackson said. “How grateful we should be and just being able to smile through some stuff. Have fun with it.”

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Sanders has surgery

Broncos inside linebacker Drew Sanders underwent foot surgery last week, according to a Sunday report from 9NEWS.

Sanders suffered a torn ligament in his foot on July 26 at training camp practice. Coach Sean Payton said he was expected to “miss north of 4-to-6 weeks.”

The Broncos drafted Sanders at No. 67 overall (third round) in 2023 from the University of Arkansas. He missed the majority of last season recovering from a torn Achilles tendon.