ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – DeMarcus Ware said it earlier in the week and Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak confirmed it Thursday as Kubiak said Ware is closing in on a return to the lineup.

Ware has been out since he fractured his forearm in the Broncos’ Week 2 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Ware said earlier this week he’s getting “better and better,’’ and Kubiak said Thursday that a recent exam showed enough progress that Ware could do some limited work on the practice field this week.

DeMarcus Ware has missed four games after suffering a fractured forearm, but he's very close to getting on the field. Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

“The scan that we got back was excellent,’’ Kubiak said after practice Thursday. “I think before the week’s out he’ll be doing some things on the field. He’s making good progress.’’

Ware has missed the last four games since he suffered an ulnar fracture in his forearm. He had surgery Sept. 19 to repair the fracture – the day after the Colts game.

Following the surgery Kubiak said he hoped Ware’s recovery would be somewhere between four and six weeks. Monday night’s game against the Texans will be five weeks to the day from his surgery and the Broncos’ Oct. 30 game against the San Diego Chargers would be the six-week mark.

Also, Thursday, left tackle Russell Okung and wide receiver Cody Latimer, who are both under the guidelines of the league’s concussion protocol, did not practice. But both players had progressed enough to have participated in a walk-through.

Kubiak said he “hoped’’ Okung would be able to practice some Friday.

“He’s doing good, he’s doing really good,’’ Kubiak said of Okung. Hopefully he’s out here [Friday].’’