Broncos move LB Shaquil Barrett from NFI to active roster

A depleted Denver Broncos defensive front seven received a shot in the arm Tuesday with the return of linebacker Shaquil Barrett to the practice field.

The team moved Barrett, who missed much of the offseason and all of training camp with a hip injury, from the non-football injury list to the active roster, allowing him to return to team work.

Barrett’ been sidelined since May after injuring his hip during a workout away from the Broncos facility and was placed on the NFI just ahead of training camp.

At the time of Barrett’s injury, estimates had the fourth-year linebacker out two to three months or longer.

However, last week head coach Vance Joseph said the team would get Barrett back “soon” and, in the meantime, others would get a longer look with both his and linebacker Shane Ray’s absence due to injury.

“It’s unfortunate we had Shaq and Shane go down, but Shaq will be back soon. But like I said before, it gives these other guys more opportunities to go out there and ball,” Joseph said.

His return from injury relieves a Broncos defense that’s seen a slew of defenders hampered with injuries this offseason, including Ray (wrist), Kyle Peko (foot), and Billy Winn, who tore his ACL and will be out for the season.

Barrett, who turns 25 on Nov. 17, joined the Broncos as an undrafted college free agent out of Colorado State in 2014.

After keeping Barrett on the practice squad for much of the 2014 season, Denver signed the linebacker to its active roster in January 2015. He would start six games for the Broncos that following season, earning 5 ½ sacks for the NFL’s top-ranked defense on the way to a Super Bowl 50 victory.

Last season, Barrett played in 16 games but did not start in any of them. He garnered 1 ½ sacks and 20 tackles, along with two passes defensed and one forced fumble.

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.