The hits keep coming to the banged-up Broncos, but at least they’re getting one of their most dynamic playmakers back. And another’s return is on the horizon.

Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy is expected to be in the starting lineup for Denver’s next game against Washington on Oct. 31, coach Vic Fangio said Friday. Jeudy has been sidelined with a high ankle sprain since Week 1 but was medically cleared to play Thursday against the Browns. The Broncos elected not to have him suit up.

“He wanted to play,” Fangio said. “We didn’t think it was prudent to play him with no practice…. We’re looking forward to having him back.”

Jeudy had six catches for 72 yards before being injured against the Giants, and was primed for a big second season after an up-and-down rookie year in which he had 52 catches for 856 yards and three touchdowns.

In other news, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam is scheduled to return to practice next week. Whether Okwuegbunam plays or not is dependent on how his rehabbed hamstring responds in practice.

“We’ll see where he’s at,” Fangio said. “There was some hope when he first got hurt that he would only miss two games, but with the third game being a Thursday game, we put him on (injured reserve). He wouldn’t have been able to play last night if we didn’t I.R. him.. Hopefully he’ll be good (for Washington).”

While Jeudy and Okwuegbunam are set to return, the Broncos are dealing with an array of injuries suffered in the 17-14 loss to Cleveland.

The severity of the ankle sprain to Von Miller, who left in the second quarter after being stepped on by lineman Dre’Mont Jones, is still being determined. Miller’s X-rays came back clear on his surgically repaired left ankle that was the reason he missed all of 2020; he was slated to have an MRI on Friday. Additionally, Fangio said nose tackle Mike Purcell “could miss a couple weeks” with a thumb injury. Purcell, who sustained a season-ending Lisfarnc fracture in Week 7 last year, has 19 tackles in 2021. Fortunately for the Broncos, they have capable backups in veteran Shamar Stephen and DeShawn Williams, both of whom have played about a third of the Broncos’ defensive snaps so far.

Fangio said the team is still deciding if surgery will be necessary for Purcell. Either way, when he does come back, he’ll be playing with a cast on his hand.

Inside linebacker Micah Kiser, who made his first start for Denver on Thursday after being signed Sept. 22 off the Rams’ practice squad, will also be out a couple weeks with a groin injury. That makes the Broncos even thinner at inside linebacker as Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell are already out for the season with pectoral injuries. Fangio said rookie Curtis Robinson, called up from the practice squad last week, “did okay (and) wasn’t good enough” against the Browns. He, too, is dealing with a thumb/wrist injury.