The Denver Broncos expect big things out of former first-round draft pick WR Demaryius Thomas, but they'll need to wait for him to return to the practice field. The team expected this, as Thomas tore his Achilles tendon while workouts back in February.

The Broncos announced that he was put on the non-football injury list, which will still keep him on the 90-player training camp roster. He will need to pass his physical before he can return to the practice field.

Should Thomas not pass his physical during training camp, the team could, as Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post points out, place him on the physically-unable-to-perform list. That would give him another six weeks to determine whether he can play this season.

With Brandon Lloyd the top receiver, Eddie Royal looking to bounce back after hip surgery and Eric Decker seemingly taking a larger role after the Jabar Gaffney trade, Thomas has plenty of ground to make up.

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