The surprise ascension of DeMarcus Walker through Broncos preseason expects to reach its crescendo on Thursday night with former coach Vance Joseph on the opposing sideline.

Oh, sweet redemption.

Sort of.

Walker wrapped up practice this week at UCHealth Training Center with Denver’s final preseason game looming against the Cardinals and told The Denver Post what you’d probably expect when asked about now Arizona defensive coordinator Vance Joseph stopping by at Mile High.

Any more juice for this one?

“Nah, man,” Walker said. “That stuff is in the past.”

Underneath that commendable show of respect, though, is this undeniable fact: Whatever success Walker earns in Vic Fangio’s defense serves as yet another indictment of Joseph’s disastrous Denver coaching tenure. Joseph asked Walker, a 2017 second-round pick, to swap from defensive end to linebacker and drop significant weight; only to move Walker back midway through his rookie season. And last season Joseph listed Walker as a healthy scratch in 13 games.

Joseph got fired, Fangio got hired, and suddenly…

“It’s been by far the best camp I’ve ever had,” Walker said.

Walker is not a roster lock, but appears one step closer after the Broncos released Zach Kerr. His chances would also be bolstered if the Broncos keep six active defensive linemen on the roster. Walker’s only concern, though, is maximizing each snap on Thursday.

Joseph watching from the Cardinals’ sideline? Call it an added bonus.

“It’s definitely good to see the fruits of your labor pay off,” Walker said. “But the job’s not done yet. We’ve still got one more game.”