Surrounded by reporters in front of his locker room on Thursday afternoon, Broncos safety Kareem Jackson expressed happiness for being back on the practice field after serving a four-game suspension.

At the same time, Jackson understands his reality is a bit different compared to when he returned from a two-game suspension earlier in the season.

While Jackson was sidelined, safety P.J. Locke was inserted into the starting lineup and became an impactful player. He totaled 26 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles while thriving in a starting role.

Jackson said he was happy to see Locke step up to the plate in his absence and knows it’s up to the coaching staff to decide what his role will be moving forward.

“(Locke) got the opportunity and he took advantage of it. That’s how guys in the league get paid,” Jackson said. “At the end of the day, it’s all about getting wins no matter who is out there.”

Jackson hasn’t played in a month since his hit on Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs drew his second suspension this season. As eager as he might be to play Sunday against the Patriots, there’s a chance he’ll have to wait another week to get back on the field.

The Broncos have the option to hold him out with a one-game exemption in order to get him back in shape prior to Week 17’s matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers. The team has yet to indicate how it will proceed.

“It’s (Jackson’s) first week back, so it takes some time to get his body in shape, making calls and playing football,” defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said. “Right now, we are still working through those issues with (Jackson), so we’ll see how it goes on Sunday.”

Locke’s play in recent weeks likely solidified a spot for him in the starting lineup. But if the Broncos are serious about making a run for the postseason, they could use Jackson’s support. The veteran defensive back has played well whenever he’s been on the field and should provide depth in the secondary.

Jackson’s return could also force the Broncos to make some tough decisions in order to create room for him on the roster. Are the Broncos willing to roll the dice and place a player like safety J.L. Skinner or outside linebacker Thomas Incoom, who has rarely played this season, on waivers and hope nobody picks them up? Are they willing to shake up their special teams unit, which has been one of the best in the league this season?

“We’ve got a strong nucleus and I think that, being one of the top units in the league when you look at it across the board, that’s been an element to it,” Broncos special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica said. “We have had a couple guys in and out and I think that what’s really neat is those new guys that are in those roles, whether it’s like a Ben Niemann or (Nate) Adkins was rotating in there, the guys that are the core guys accept them (and) help them.”

Whatever decision the team makes, Jackson said the bond among Denver’s defensive backs will remain strong.

“Our relationship with these guys will always be bigger than the game,” Jackson said. “Once we are all done in this locker room, these are guys I still plan to have a relationship with and hang out with their families. That’s special to me and I always want to see these guys excel in this league.”

Jackson’s first suspension came after a hit on Green Bay tight end Luke Musgrave on Oct. 22 that resulted in an immediate ejection. He appealed that suspension, which was shortened from four games to two, and returned to the field against Minnesota only to find himself back in trouble just three plays into the game.

Jackson said he is unsure of what he can do to avoid future punishment.

“Maybe I’ll just start ankle biting (and) that would keep me out of trouble,” he said.

When Jackson returned for his first suspension, head coach Sean Payton had a simple message: “We’re on a little bit of a roll and don’t mess anything up now.”

What’s Payton’s message to him this time around? Jackson said he hasn’t received one.

“I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad thing,” he said.

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