ENGLEWOOD – When guard Ben Powers became a free agent in March 2023 after four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, did they make an offer to retain him?

“I didn’t hear from them,’’ Powers said.

Powers then signed a four-year, $52 million contract with the Broncos. And on Sunday he will return to Baltimore to face the Ravens.

Even though the Ravens didn’t look to retain him, Powers has no animosity toward his former team.

“I kind of understood their situation,’’ Powers said after Friday’s practice at Broncos Park. “That was the offseason they were handling (quarterback Lamar Jackson’s) contract, so I kind of anticipated it. … I’m happy where I’m at.”

On Sunday, though, plenty of memories will be stirred about Powers’ time with the Ravens. After being a fourth-round pick in 2019 out of Oklahoma, he got into just one game as a rookie. But he eventually worked his way up to become a part-time starter in 2020 and a full-time starter in 2021 and 2022.

“I guess it won’t hit me until the bus drives to the stadium,’’ Powers said of memories of the Ravens. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Baltimore. I’ll think about it for the rest of my life. Those are four special years in my life, and I enjoyed them.”

Powers still keeps up with Ravens tackle Ronnie Stanley and fullback Patrick Ricard although he said he has not talked to them this week.

While with Baltimore, Powers blocked for Jackson. He always will have memories of that.

“It was awesome,’’ he said. “It was great. He’s a magician out there. We called him, ‘Magic Man.’ He’s a generational talent. There’s no other way to put it.”

Jackson returned to practice Friday after sitting out workouts Wednesday and Thursday with back and knee injuries and he has no injury designation for Sunday’s game.

Throckmorton back, Burton to return

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As expected, the Broncos signed offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton off the practice squad to the active roster.

To make room on the roster, the Broncos released fullback Michael Burton. However, Burton is a vested veteran, and the plan is to sign him to the practice squad Saturday and elevate him for Sunday’s game.

Throckmorton was elevated to serve as Denver’s backup center the past three games, but a player only can be elevated off the practice squad three times in a season. He told The Denver Gazette on Thursday he had expected to be signed to the 53-man roster so that he again would be the backup center against the Ravens.

Luke Wattenberg was the starting center until suffering an ankle injury on Oct. 6 against Las Vegas, going on injured reserve, and being replaced by Alex Forsyth. He is healing well and could be activated for the Nov. 10 game at Kansas City after missing the required four games while on injured reserve.

Burton began the season on the practice squad before being signed to the active roster after being elevated in Week 1. He has two elevations remaining this season.

Locke ruled out

The Broncos ruled out safety P.J. Locke, who has a thumb injury, for Sunday’s game.

Locke was hurt Oct. 23 in practice and his thumb is in a splint. He will miss his second straight game. Locke will be replaced again by Devon Key, who played 56 of 61 defensive snaps in last Sunday’s 28-14 win over Carolina.

“It felt good,’’ said Key, who didn’t start against the Panthers because the Broncos opened in a package with one safety. “Just being out there and finally kind of getting more snaps on defense and getting in a rhythm was really nice,”

The Ravens listed as out running back Rasheen Ali (ankle) and defensive end Brent Urban (concussion) and as questionable cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (knee) and Jalyn Armour-Davis (knee), running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) and defensive tackle Travis Jones (ankle).

Briefly

The Broncos announced that safety Delarrin Turner-Yell, who is on the physically unable to perform list and returned to practice Wednesday, won’t be activated to face the Ravens. He suffered a torn ACL last Dec. 31, and the Broncos have until Nov. 20 to either activate him or leave him on the PUP list for the rest of the season. “He’s well respected and a guy that I would say is well thought of in the locker room and on the field,’’ said Broncos coach Sean Payton. “So, it’s good to have him getting closer (to returning).” … In 1998, Payton was Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach and John Harbaugh, now Baltimore’s head coach, was special teams coordinator. “I got to know him and his family well, and I would consider him a good coaching friend,’’ Payton said. … Payton has been pleased with the continued development of quarterback Bo Nix, named Thursday the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Month for October. “We’ve seen, obviously with a young quarterback, his improvement,’’ he said.