ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Cornerback Ronald Darby has taken the next step in his return to game action.
The Broncos have designated Darby for return from injured reserve the team announced Wednesday.
Darby is now eligible to practice with the team, and he participated during the media-viewing portion of Wednesday's practice. He is not yet on the team's active roster, but the Broncos can activate Darby at any point over the next three weeks. Darby is eligible to play as early as this weekend against the Steelers if he is activated.
If the Broncos do not activate Darby within three weeks, he will revert to injured reserve for the remainder of the year.
Darby played all 61 snaps in the Broncos' Week 1 win over the Giants, but he was placed on injured reserve the following week and was required to miss three games.
Head Coach Vic Fangio said before Wednesday's practice that it was possible Darby could play this weekend in Pittsburgh.
With Darby out of the lineup, rookie Pat Surtain II started at right cornerback. Surtain is day to day with a chest injury.
