Remember when Broncos cornerback Chris Harris said Sunday afternoon in Cincinnati that he intended to return from a broken leg to play in the postseason?

Check that.

“(The medical staff) said four weeks, but my goal is three weeks and play against (the Chargers on Dec. 30),” Harris said in the Broncos’ locker room on Monday.

Harris will not be placed on the season-ending injured reserve list and coach Vance Joseph only called his status “week-to-week.”

Harris, who has missed only three of a possible 135 regular season/playoff games since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2011, was injured in the win over Cincinnati while making a tackle on receiver A.J. Green.

While aiming for a quick return, Harris also knows the reality.

“I feel way better (Monday), but you just have to rest and let the bone heal,” he said. “I always heal fast. I have the right people around me to help me get back fast.”

The Broncos, Miami, Indianapolis and Tennessee are all 6-6, one game behind Baltimore for the final AFC wild-card spot. If the Broncos host the Chargers in Week 17 with a playoff spot on the line, Harris wants to be a part of it.

For now, the Broncos’ cornerback group is Bradley Roby, Tramaine Brock (who missed the Bengals game with a rib injury), rookie Issac Yiadom (who played 58 snaps on Sunday) and Brendan Langley (a recent practice squad call-up).

Help may be on the way. A league source confirmed multiple reports that veteran Jamar Taylor could be in the mix to sign with the Broncos. Taylor, 28, has 41 starts among his 74 career games (three interceptions) for Miami, Cleveland and Arizona. He was cut by the Cardinals on Nov. 21.

Safety Justin Simmons moved into the nickel role covering the slot receiver after Harris departed.

“It says a lot for a guy not to work ‘nickel’ all week and move there in the first quarter and play 50 snaps there at a high level,” Joseph said. “That speaks also to his physical traits. When (Green) went down, it was all (Tyler) Boyd, so to match him down the seam and to match him intermediately, (Simmons) won more than he lost. That’s special.”

If the Broncos like Simmons as the nickel option, they could use a three-safety package with Simmons, Darian Stewart and Will Parks, allowing Roby and Brock/Yiadom to stay outside. Su’a Cravens is also an option as the third safety.

“Everybody has to do more,” Harris said. “It’s not just one person stepping up. Guys have to do more, learn more and pay attention to detail. I’ll be in the meeting room like an extra coach and make sure they’re ready to go.”

Said Joseph: “His leadership is critical for our young back-end. He’s a very, very smart football player. The things he finds in film study, no one else finds.”

Over the next three games, the Broncos don’t face a wide receiver who ranks among the top 20 in yards. (Niners tight end George Kittle is 17th with 893 yards.)

“The Bengals weren’t very good, I’m just keeping it 100,” Harris said. “But we have a tough schedule for the last four games and we need (the defensive backs) to play at a high level. I think I’ve already went through the gauntlet of facing the best receivers so I think they’ll be able to hold up.”

Harris was having another terrific season with three interceptions and solid week-in and week-out work.

“We’re going to play for Chris and obviously he’s made a big impact,” Cravens said. “But the games aren’t going to stop. We have the talent to be able to hang in there as if there is no drop off.”