Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer 10y

Broncos ready to see full lineup on defense

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Three games into the regular season and the Denver Broncos are just now ready to move the defensive plan they made in the offseason from the drawing board to the field.

As they work through two bye-week practices this week -- Tuesday and Wednesday -- before a four-day weekend, the Broncos will continue to monitor linebacker Danny Trevathan's progress. Trevathan, who suffered a fracture at the top of his tibia Aug. 12 in a practice, returned to practice last week for the first time since the injury and was on the sideline for the Broncos' 26-20 overtime loss in Seattle.

And when the team’s leading tackler from 2013 is back in his starting weak-side linebacker spot the Broncos will have the defensive lineup they've hoped for. The Broncos continue to point to the Oct. 5 game against the Arizona Cardinals, their first after the bye, for Trevathan’s return.

“I’m always optimistic," Broncos head coach John Fox said. “He kind of started getting closer last week and he was limited in practice on Friday. This week’s preparation is a little bit different than an in-game schedule ... we’ll work as a football team Tuesday and Wednesday. I’m anticipating he’ll be there Tuesday."

With Von Miller's play Sunday -- Miller was consistently disruptive as he played 67 of the Broncos’ 78 snaps on defense -- Trevathan’s return would add another three-down linebacker to the mix as well as give defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio more options as the team moves from its base package to its specialty packages.

The Broncos often use a three-linebacker look in their nickel package (five defensive backs), and Trevathan’s return could allow Del Rio to use Miller, Trevathan and Brandon Marshall -- who has played for Trevathan -- as the three linebackers to go for more speed in the formation.

The Broncos tinkered with some different looks on defense in search of speed Sunday when rookies Corey Nelson and Lamin Barrow played two and 11 snaps, respectively, on defense. It was the first time Barrow and Nelson had taken snaps on defense this season.

“I’ve said it when I get back in there, that’s the full defense, all the linebackers, all the DBs, all the D-linemen," Trevathan said. “I just want to do my part, man, the way they’ve been playing has been what you want to see, they’ve gone out there grinding, making plays. I want to see what we can do as the full group."

Because the Broncos had limited the practice time in training camp for Miller and cornerback Chris Harris Jr. -- the two had ACL surgeries eight and seven months ago, respectively -- and Trevathan suffered his injury before early in the preseason, the Broncos haven’t had their projected defense practicing fully together at full speed.

Tuesday’s practice might well be the first look at that, as will next week’s practices.

“As a football team we’re not there yet," Fox said. “I think we’re making strides. I saw improvement from Week 2 to Week 3, and that includes Von. I think he’s gotten better. He did miss quite a bit of last season and like everything it takes a little bit of time, lot of facets to play this game at a high level."

“I’m ready to see what we can do, where we can take our game," Trevathan said.

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