ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb took the latest step in his recovery Monday, and he said he has no doubt that he'll be available for Week 1 against the Giants.
"I'm going to be ready for September — 100 percent," Chubb said.
Chubb returned to limited 11-on-11 work on Monday for the first time since he underwent offseason surgery on his ankle.
"It was just one of those things where I couldn't do my job as well as I wanted to do it," Chubb said of the surgery. "We made a decision to just go in there and clean it out. It was supposed to be a longer recovery … but luckily they just got a chance to go in there and clean it out. … It's structurally good, and I should be ready for sure."
The Broncos have taken their time working the 2020 Pro Bowler back into team drills as he continues to get back into football shape following the surgery. After participating in a few plays of 11-on-11, Chubb spent time during practice running on a side field, as he has done for much of training camp.
Head Coach Vic Fangio and the Broncos remain unconcerned that Chubb will be available.
"Today was his first day back since he had the offseason surgery, so I'll go in and look at it [on film]," Fangio said. "I'm confident he's going to be fine. It's more of a case of getting in shape and having a logical progression for him. When you have your foot in the boot for however long he did, you can't really work."
Fangio said he hopes Chubb will be able to handle a normal workload of snaps in Week 1, and Chubb was committed to following the training staff's plan that will ease him back into football. Chubb said that plan may or may not include snaps in preseason games.
"It's really up to the training staff," Chubb said of playing in the preseason. "I feel like I'm good. If they see the same thing, and we all come to an agreement that I need a rep here or a rep there, I'm going to do it. But if not, I'm just going to do it exactly as they tell me."
At least on Monday, Chubb seemed to take a step in the right direction.
"Today I felt really comfortable," Chubb said. "I felt like a brand-new person running around. [I'm] trying not to think about it, but of course you have those days where I don't want to step wrong and stuff like that. I feel like last week I was having those thoughts, but I get around these guys where I get the energy that they bring, it makes me so excited, I don't even think about all the stuff that's going on with me. I'm just trying to go out there and make those plays, do what I can do to cause disruption."
When Chubb returns, he and Von Miller will aim to make a quick impact on opposing offenses. In their lone full season together, Chubb and Miller recorded a combined 26.5 sacks.
"I'm real confident," Chubb said of a fast start. "It's something we talk about a lot. We know we've been here going on four years and only been able to play with each other a full one year, so we've got that bad taste in our mouths and want to make sure we do everything to maximize this opportunity we both have in playing with each other and do it big."
As Chubb returned to the field, several other players were held out of team activities.
Linebacker Josey Jewell will be out "at least 10 days" with a groin injury, according to Fangio.
"He feels a whole lot better than the medical staff is saying he is, so there's kind of a conflict there," Fangio said. "So we'll see."
Wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland, meanwhile, missed practice with a "bruised backside." Fangio said Cleveland would not be out long.
Nose tackle Mike Purcell (ankle) also remained out, as did linebacker Baron Browning, who is on the team's Active/Physically Unable to Perform list.
"I talked to him this morning," Fangio said. "He said he's better today, doing better. As soon as he turns the corner, I think we'll be able to get him out there."
Fangio said Browning did not undergo surgery on his leg.
