ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – After watching linebacker Danny Trevathan practice over the past two weeks, Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio said it’s “great to have him back in the mix.’’

Linebacker Brandon Marshall said Friday he was “very eager’’ to line up alongside Trevathan. Cornerback Chris Harris Jr said; “Danny coming back would just give us the defense at full strength, and we've been playing good defense so that only makes us go up another notch.’’

And unless something unexpected happens in the team’s walk-through practice on Saturday, the wait will be over. The Broncos are expected to formally move Trevathan from injured reserve/designated to return to the 53-man roster Saturday before the team leaves for San Diego.

Trevathan is also expected to be in the lineup, on defense, Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. The Broncos will have make a roster move to make room for Trevathan and were considering their options on Friday for that move.

The third-year linebacker has practiced with the team since Nov. 26 and on Thursday, Del Rio said; “I think he’s looked pretty good getting back the last couple of weeks to practice. It’s good to have all the healthy bodies we can. Danny’s obviously a good player and it’s great to have him back in the mix.”

Trevathan, who was the team’s leading tackler in 2013, has been on injured reserve/designated to return since Oct. 14. Overall, he has played in just two games this season because of two separate fractures in his left leg, the first suffered in training camp, the second in the Oct. 12 game against the New York Jets.

“I’m real eager, we’re both playmakers, we both have great instincts we both make plays,’’ Marshall said about the prospects of lining up alongside Trevathan. “To have him back would be tremendous.’’

If the Broncos want to ease Trevathan back into things, they could have him participate initially in the specialty packages, in the nickel (five defensive backs) or dime (six defensive backs). If Trevathan was to return to his full duties immediately and line up at weak-side linebacker in the base defense, Marshall would then play at the middle linebacker spot.

Earlier in the week, Trevathan said he was “eager’’ to return and that “I’m always ready to go out there and put on the best performance possible, especially with this defense we’ve got right now.’’

On the prospects of lining up Marshall, who leads the Broncos in tackles this season, and Trevathan at the same time, Del Rio said; “They’re both similar in that they’re instinctive guys, they’ve got good speed, [and] they’re playmakers. So it’s really been a tremendous job by Brandon stepping in when Danny was out and the fact that he’s been able to hold up and help us play at a real high level in a big role. Obviously, getting Danny back, who had that role to begin with, should strengthen us down the stretch here.’’