Jamaal Charles made big news in May when the Denver Broncos picked him up from AFC West rival Kansas City as a free agent.

Now, it’s just a matter of seeing the 2005 Port Arthur Memorial graduate play.

First-year Broncos coach Vance Joseph told multiple media outlets that he expects to play Charles sometime in the preseason, although he has not specified which game. Charles did not play in Denver’s 24-17 win over the Chicago Bears on Thursday at Soldier Field.

“We’ve got San Fran this week, we’ve got Green Bay, and even Arizona Week 4,” Joseph told SB Nation’s Mile High Report. “He’ll eventually play; it depends on the docs and how he’s feeling.”

Denver and San Francisco will kick off at 9 p.m. Central Saturday in Santa Clara, California.

Charles, whose 7,260 career rushing yards makes him eighth all-time among active NFL players (59th overall), is coming off his second season-ending knee injury in as many seasons.

“I feel comfortable,” Charles told Denver station KMGH-TV. “I am out here. Whenever they throw me into the fire, I will be ready. Every day my reps go up, week by week. I am doing whatever they tell me to do.”

Charles still has to make the 53-man roster to have a chance to fulfill a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $3.75 million. KMGH reported the 30-year-old, who is Port Arthur ISD’s all-time leading rusher, received a $900,000 base salary with a $500,000 roster bonus.

Each NFL team fields up to 90 players in the preseason, with a cut to 53 to take place Sept. 2.

— I.C. Murrell