ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Last Sunday, Nick Kasa was like any other fan of the Denver Broncos.

On Super Bowl Sunday, he’ll be one of the Denver Broncos.

The tight end, out of football since the spring, got a phone call while sitting in the stands last weekend, watching the Broncos beat New England in the AFC title game.

He dropped his phone and cracked the screen – that’s another story – but when he finally restored his service, he learned the Broncos wanted to sign him to the practice squad to help them get ready for the Super Bowl against Carolina.

“It’s been pretty crazy. Kind of indescribable,” said Kasa, who was signed Monday and would have to be activated from the practice squad in order to play in the game. “These guys have been working hard toward this for a long time. For me to come in at the end here, is just kind of an out-of-the-ordinary event. I’m honored to be here and ready to do whatever I can to help.”

That includes playing the part of Panthers tight end Greg Olsen in practice. He’s been studying film of the Pro Bowl tight end to give Denver’s top-ranked defense an accurate portrayal.

“My role is to be the best Greg Olsen that I can,” said Kasa, who went to high school in Broomfield, Colorado, and played at the University of Colorado. “I didn’t see this coming. I thought the season was drawing to an end. I was ready to move on to the next year. Surprised me with this call. I’m ready to go.”

Kasa was drafted in the sixth round by Oakland in 2013, and played in all 16 games his rookie season. The only catch of his career was in the final week of that season, when he hauled in a 9-yard TD pass against, fittingly enough, the Broncos.

He missed 2014 after being placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL. Last spring, the Raiders let him go and he’s been looking for an NFL job ever since.

“It’s a freaking dream come true, for sure,” the 25-year-old Kasa said. “I don’t know how to describe it. … It’s just good to be here. I don’t want to distract from this team at all. They’ve been working hard for a long time.”

To think, he initially missed a call he’s been waiting so long to receive. While attending the AFC championship game, the phone dropped out of his hand and the screen broke. As he was taking in Denver’s 20-18 win over Tom Brady and the Patriots, the team was trying to get in touch with him.

It wasn’t until the next day, when he picked up a new phone, that he saw the messages.

His heart sank.

“I was freaking out, for sure,” Kasa said. “But got it all turned around in enough time and made it over here. Now, I’m just on to however I can help.”