ENGLEWOOD – When star cornerback Pat Surtain II was hurt late in the first half on Oct. 26 against Dallas, there was reason for the Broncos to be very worried.

Surtain grabbed his left shoulder in pain after tackling Cowboys receiver George Pickens. He was ruled out for the game and then had tests over the next few days.

“At first, I didn’t really know the severity of it,’’ Surtain, speaking to the media for the first time since his injury, said after Friday’s practice at Broncos Park. “Obviously, in the heat of the moment, you don’t know if it’s a tear or if it’s a strain, but I got the best news I could get from it. So, it was just a partial tear (of his pectoral muscle). I attacked rehab the right way. Got it back stronger, got it back healthier.”

The Broncos opted not to put the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year on injured reserve, and he ended up missing three games. On Sunday night at Washington, Surtain will return to the lineup.

“It feels great, honestly,’’ said Surtain, who had four weeks off since the Broncos are coming off a bye week. “It’s been a long couple of weeks not being out there, but I’m grateful and blessed to be back healthy.”

Surtain returned to practice on Wednesday, and Broncos coach Sean Payton said then he was in line to return against the Commanders. On Friday, Surtain had no injury designation on the final report of the week.

Also having no injury designation was linebacker Alex Singleton, who missed one game after undergoing testicular cancer surgery Nov. 7. Singleton, who also returned to practice Wednesday, had been expected all week to return against the Commanders.

The Broncos listed outside linebacker Jonah Elliss as questionable with a hamstring injury and tight end Nate Adkins out with a knee injury. Payton said Adkins, who will miss his fourth straight game, was close to returning this week and is in line to be back for the Dec. 7 game at Las Vegas.

The Broncos went 3-0 with Surtain out. But outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper sure is glad to have him healthy.

“Amazing,’’ Cooper said. “Whenever you get the Defensive Player of the Year back, it definitely adds another layer to the defense. We’ve been holding it down for him since he’s been gone, but we’re definitely excited to have him back.”

Surtain will wear a harness against the Commanders but is hopeful he won’t have many limitations.

“Obviously, you want to be smart about it, but I just want to go out there feeling confident and that’s what I feel right now,’’ he said. “Right now, it’s not too many limitations. Obviously, I’m going to keep it in the harness, but also it allows me to play free as well and play to the best of my abilities.”

Surtain doesn’t deny it might take some time to get back into the groove.

“It’s like that build-up that you can feel sitting out a couple of weeks,’’ he said. “It’s not going to be perfect, but just getting out there and feeling that momentum and getting your stride back, knocking the rust off, I think that’s what’s going to be exciting.”

Surtain, in his fifth NFL season, said it was the longest he ever has sat out in his football career. He was asked if he could have returned sooner had it been for a playoff game.

“No doubt,’’ he said. “Obviously, we know we’re at a good state right now with the team, so I took my time with it but also was like anxious to get back.”

The Broncos are 9-2 and a half-game behind 10-2 New England in the race for the No. 1 seed for the AFC playoffs. They have won eight straight games, including the three when Kris Abrams-Draine and rookie Jahdae Barron split reps filling in for Surtain.

“They stood out for me,’’ Surtain said. “They’re very confident. I’ve mentioned before how great (Abrams-Draine) and Jahdae (are),’’ Surtain said. “It wasn’t surprising because (they) prepare the right way, they practice the right way, and they got the right habits and mindset.”

Surtain, a team captain, said he provided tips to Abrams-Draine and Barron when he was out but there “wasn’t too much to correct.”

The Broncos will get another captain back against the Commanders (3-8) in Singleton, who will return to his role of wearing the green dot and calling defensive plays. Replacement Justin Strnad had those duties in Denver’s last game, a 22-19 win over Kansas City on Nov. 16.

“Awesome, man,’’ Cooper said of Singleton’s quick return. “He’s a dynamic player, a hard-headed player, a leader of the defense.”

Outside linebacker Dondrea Tillman called it important to have two captains back in the lineup.

“They play a big part on our defense,’’ he said. “They’re leaders. They hold us all accountable.”

Tillman said when Surtain went down against the Cowboys he “definitely was worried.” But Surtain said it turned out the best he could have envisioned.