ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Rookie outside linebacker Shane Ray did not participate in the first of the Denver Broncos organized team activities Wednesday as he recovers from a toe injury suffered in his final game at the University of Missouri. He is not expected to participate in either Thursday's or Friday's OTA practices.

But coach Gary Kubiak said the Broncos' first-round pick could begin to do at least some individual work with his position group next week.

"He's close, I think you're probably going to see him next week do some individual and those type of things," Kubiak said after Wednesday's practice. "We fitted him for some orthotics, he's feeling good, he's done some work. He's done a lot of treatment and he wants out of that and wants on the field. We're going to go about this slowly and we're going to go about it the right way."

Ray, who has called his injury a "variation of turf toe," just returned to the Broncos full-time on May 18. He has since been working with the team's medical staff each day and during Wednesday's practice worked with the strength and conditioning coaches, alongside fellow linebackers Brandon Marshall and Danny Trevathan.

Marshall is coming back from offseason foot surgery. Trevathan suffered three separate left leg injuries last season, finished out the season on injured reserve and eventually had surgery to repair a dislocated kneecap.

For his part other than brief cameo for a three-day minicamp earlier this month, Ray did not work fully with the Broncos medical staff until the 18th. He had attended the team's rookie camp the weekend following the draft (he did not practice), but because the University of Missouri's graduation was not until May 18, by league rules, Ray could not attend any other team functions until then despite entering the draft as a junior.

"It's a process and it's not something we want to rush," Ray said following practice. "We want to make sure when I do come back I can be me."

Because of the injury Ray did not work out at the combine in February and was limited at least some in his on-campus workout in the weeks before the draft. Kubiak has said Ray's pre-draft workouts affected the player's ability to heal.

Ray, DeMarcus Ware and Von Miller give the Broncos three edge-rushers for defensive coordinator Wade Phillips to move around the formation and the team hopes to use Ray to better divvy up snaps for Ware, who will turn 33 in July.

Ray's type of injury can have a significant impact on a player's ability to cut and come out of a three-point stance. He will wear an orthotic in his right shoe to avoid aggravating the injury. He has repeatedly said he believes he will be fully ready to go by training camp

"The issue was I never got the proper chance to rehab and get my body right," Ray said. "And there's no point in rushing and injuring myself more. So, I'm going to keep taking the steps I need to take and when they feel like it's the right time for me to come out here and practice and do what I need to do, I'll be ready."

Ray was the SEC's Defensive Player of the Year last season with 14.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss.