Lindsay H. Jones

USA TODAY Sports

Bailey will return as starter after limited play in past three games

Denver back in AFC Championship Game for first time since 2005

Bailey has started 218 games in his career

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Champ Bailey has seen hundreds of teammates signed and cut, and two head coaches fired in the eight long years since he was last in this situation.

Eight years since the Broncos played in the AFC Championship Game, eight years since the Broncos lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, eight years since the Broncos last had a chance at the Super Bowl.

"I never thought it would take this long," Bailey told USA TODAY Sports Friday afternoon after his team's final practice of the week.

Bailey's 2013 season has been a nightmare, the most frustrating of his career. He struggled for months to return from a foot injury he suffered in the second preseason game. He made two failed comeback attempts before pain in his right foot forced him back to the sidelines. When he finally returned for the final two weeks of the regular season, he was used in a limited role.

For three games, the Broncos have had Bailey on the football equivalent of a pitch-count. After starting all but one of the first 218 games (including postseason) of his career, Bailey was a situational player, on the field for roughly half of Denver's defensive snaps as the slot corner.

That will change Sunday against the New England Patriots.

"[The pitch count] doesn't exist this week," Bailey said. "Whatever it takes."

Bailey's expected return to the starting lineup at his familiar left cornerback spot is the most logical solution for a Denver defense desperate to replace Chris Harris. The third-year corner tore his ACL in last week's divisional round win against San Diego.

In a season that has been defined by chaos for the Broncos defense, Bailey's return has been a welcome change. This is a defense that played the first six games without its best pass rusher -- Von Miller -- who was serving a drug-program-related suspension. Later, Denver lost starting defensive tackle Kevin Vickerson (hip), defensive end Derek Wolfe (illness), safety Rahim Moore (lower leg) and Miller (ACL) to injuries.

"You know when he's out there because he talks to you real smooth, and lets you know everything is alright," linebacker Danny Trevathan said of Bailey. "When you're out there with Champ, you just get a good vibe from him. It's an honor to play with a guy that is going to be in the Hall of Fame."

Bailey, 35, remains under contract with the Broncos through next season. He will be in the final year of the four-year, $42.5 million contract he signed in 2011. But just as quarterback Peyton Manning didn't want to talk about his legacy or future plans this week, Bailey dismissed any questions about anything beyond Sunday's game.

"All I care about is winning the game in front of me – all those things will take care of themselves," Bailey said. "If I don't take care of what is in front of me, then nothing else will matter, because I would probably go out there and have a bad game. When I'm done, I'll look back then."

Perhaps no Bronco would appreciate an AFC Championship more than Bailey, the team's longest-tenured player. He arrived in Denver in a blockbuster trade with Washington in 2004, for running back Clinton Portis, and re-signed before hitting free agency in 2011.

Longtime Broncos receiver Rod Smith, who will serve as an honorary captain Sunday, was Bailey's teammate for four years, including in 2005 when they last advanced to the AFC Championship Game. Smith has remained in Denver since retiring in 2007 and stayed close with Bailey.

On Friday, Smith said he believes Bailey's return is critical to the Broncos' current playoff run.

"That guy has instincts like no other corner," Smith said. "He's shut down some of the best receivers in the NFL. That's going to be evident come Sunday. Whoever he's on … his job is to just do what Champ Bailey knows how to do."