The confirmed part: the Broncos designated Coleman to return from IR, which starts his 21-day window. He hurt the ankle in Denver's Week 2 win over Jacksonville and has missed four games. Bean notes he is eligible to play Sunday against Arizona.
Still open: Denver has not activated him to the 53-man roster, and the team has not said how much work he will get once he is back. Asked whether Coleman could jump-start the running game, Sean Payton told reporters the Broncos have a deep running back room and that his return is a positive. He stopped short of saying who would lead the backfield.
The window gives Denver three weeks to decide. A player can practice during that stretch without counting against the roster, so the Broncos can bring him along slowly or activate him as soon as this week if the ankle holds up.
For RSO owners, if Coleman is on your roster, keep him in your IR slot until Denver activates him, then move him back before your lineup locks. If he is a free agent in your league, he is worth a modest bid. Rookie contracts are cheap, and a running back who returns healthy in late October has time to earn a bigger share before your playoffs. Do not cut a proven starter to make room.
Next, watch Denver's Thursday and Friday practice reports, any roster move to activate him before Sunday, and how the snaps split in his first game back. A limited role against Arizona would not change his long-term value much, while a clear lead role would raise it.
