A needed point of emphasis for the Broncos out of their bye week: Cover kicks and punts better.

The Broncos are last in kickoff coverage (31.5-yard average) and second-to-last in punt coverage (11.7).

Only New Orleans and Washington are 25th or worse in both coverage teams. The Saints are 25th and 30th, respectively and the Redskins are 26th and 29th, respectively.

Before the bye week, special teams coordinator Tom McMahon said: “We’ve got to do a lot better in coverage, no question about it.”

The Broncos have allowed four punt returns of at least 10 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown by the Los Angeles Chargers’ Desmond King in Week 4. They have allowed three kick returns of at least 30 yards, including a 72-yard run by Oakland’s Dwayne Harris in Week 1.

“From a punt (coverage) standpoint, what (punter) Colby (Wadman) has to do is hit the edges and give us that hang time to help the coverage,” McMahon said.

Among the positives on special teams is returner Diontae Spencer, who is the reason why the Broncos are fourth best in kick returns (27.1) and 11th on punt returns (7.8).

“I would say the biggest thing that’s pretty steady right now is (Spencer),” McMahon said. “He’s really settled in that returner spot for us. We’ve needed that, in my opinion, (for) the last year-and-a-half.”

Lock returns. The Broncos made quarterback Drew Lock’s return to practice official on Tuesday. It was Lock’s first practice since Aug. 17 and his first action of any kind since spraining his thumb against San Francisco on Aug. 19.

During the media viewing period, starter Brandon Allen and backup Brett Rypien took most of the reps and Lock would get a throw here and there. Receiver Tim Patrick (hand), who returned to practice before the Cleveland game, remains on injured reserve but could play Sunday against Minnesota.

Heuerman points to Sunday. Tight end Jeff Heuerman, who sustained a knee injury against Indianapolis in Week 8, said playing against Minnesota is “definitely the goal.”

Heuerman sat out the Cleveland game. He said before practice Tuesday he was going to “get out there and run around a little bit and go from there. … Hopefully later in the week, I’ll get into more of the team stuff.”

Heuerman said returning after three weeks has been the target and that included spending each day of the Broncos’ bye week at the team facility to get rehabilitation.

No timeline for James. Right tackle Ja’Wuan James (knee) was the only Broncos player who didn’t participate in the stretching part of practice. He joined Heuerman on a side field for conditioning work. James has played 32 snaps (10 at Oakland and 22 at Indianapolis) this year after being the Broncos’ big free-agent addition.

“It’s tough because I came here to play,” he said. “It’s a tough situation. I just have to work hard to get back.”

James wouldn’t put a timeline on his return, but hopes to return before the end of the season.

Lions game set. The NFL announced its schedule changes for Week 16 and the Broncos will host the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Dec. 22 at 2:05 p.m. (CBS).

The Lions-Broncos game was one of five for that weekend that would be played on Saturday or Sunday. The league chose a Saturday tripleheader lineup of Houston-Tampa Bay, Buffalo-New England and Los Angeles Rams-San Francisco.

Footnotes. The Broncos signed outside linebacker Malik Carney and safety Tyvis Powell to the practice squad, filling the spots vacated when Rypien and linebacker Josh Watson were called up to the active roster. Carney is an undrafted rookie from North Carolina and was in training camp with Detroit. The Broncos are Powell’s eighth team but he has not appeared in a regular-season game. … Safety Will Parks (hand) and defensive end DeMarcus Walker (shoulder) believe they will be available Sunday. Parks was injured in the Week 7 loss to Kansas City. “Obviously, I have to play with the cast on, but no excuses, I’ll get the job done,” he said. Walker injured his AC joint in practice and missed the win over Cleveland. “(Feeling) a lot better,” he said. “A lot of pool work. I think the pool was what definitely helped me.”