Broncos designate WR Pat Bryant to return from IR as he practices fully

The Denver Broncos designated wide receiver Pat Bryant to return from injured reserve on Wednesday, and he was back at practice the same day, according to The Denver Gazette. Underdog NFL listed the second-year receiver as a full participant.

What's confirmed

Bryant opened his practice window Wednesday after missing the minimum four games with the ankle injury he suffered Oct. 4 at San Francisco. He took part in practice in full, per Underdog NFL. Denver has 21 days from the designation to activate him or he reverts to season-long IR.

What's expected

The Gazette says Bryant is in line to be activated Saturday for Sunday's game at Carolina. Denver plays its bye after that trip, so the team could choose to wait two more weeks, though SB Nation's Broncos site expects him to play this week. Thursday and Friday practice reports will tell you which way it leans.

The fantasy picture

Before the injury, Bryant had nine catches for 133 yards and a touchdown in four games, leaving the fourth early, per SB Nation. He was a training camp standout and was earning a bigger share of targets before the ankle gave out. He likely returns as the WR3 behind Courtland Sutton and Jaylen Waddle on a 6-2 team that leads the AFC West.

That role caps his short-term ceiling. In a contract league, though, a cheap young receiver who already showed he can win snaps in Sean Payton's offense is worth a roster spot, especially heading into the second half when injuries thin out depth charts.

What RSO owners should do now

If Bryant has been sitting in your IR slot, plan for him to come back this weekend and line up the roster move you will need. If he was cut in your league, he is a reasonable stash on a low-dollar, multi-year deal. Keep him out of Week 10 lineups until Denver activates him and you see how the snaps split, and don't expect a full workload in his first game back.

What to watch next

Watch Denver's Friday injury report and Saturday roster moves for the activation. Also check whether the Broncos trim snaps for any receiver to make room, since that tells you whether Bryant's role grows after the bye.