What is going on with Ja'Wuan James?

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The notion of shaking up the dispersal of playing time at the Broncos’ offensive tackle spots remains alive. This is because Garett Bolles’ proclivity for penalties persists, as he was called for his 12th holding penalty of the season Sunday, giving him at least one holding infraction in five of the Broncos’ last six games.

There’s just one catch: With their depth at tackle shaky, Broncos cannot experiment with this until Ja’Wuan James returns from his knee injury.

“That’s all dependent upon Ja’Wuan,” Broncos coach Vic Fangio said at his Monday afternoon press conference.

“He’s cleared to play, but we’ve got to get him ready to play. He’s got to get mentally ready to play, emotionally ready to play and be able to go out there and play good — not just go out there. So that’s part of that equation.”

So it is no longer a question of physical readiness for James.

James returned to practice following the Broncos’ Week 10 bye after sitting out the entire week leading up to the Browns game after aggravating the knee that he first injured in the regular-season opener against the Oakland Raiders.

Last week, James saw limited work in each day of practice. Meanwhile, right guard Ron Leary sat out Wednesday’s work with shoulder and neck issues, while center Connor McGovern and left guard Dalton Risner missed Wednesday and Thursday practices with back and ankle injuries, respectively.

Each of the four offensive linemen were questionable after Friday’s practice. But Leary, McGovern and Risner answered the bell Sunday at New Era Field, while James was inactive for a third consecutive game and ninth in 11 games as a Bronco.

So, for James, what does it mean to be emotionally and mentally ready?

“Just [that] he’s got to have confidence that he can go out there and play with his knee coming off the injury,” Fangio explained.

“I don’t think he had that the last time he tried to play when he came back.”

In his return to action against the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 27, James played 22 snaps before leaving.

“He was fine physically,” Fangio said, “but I don’t think he — in his own mind — was comfortable and confident.”

So how does Fangio know if a player is emotionally and mentally ready?

“Just by talking to him, watching him practice,” he said.

Thus, expect the waiting game and questions for James to continue this week as the Broncos continue to wait for a substantial return on their massive free-agent investment in the erstwhile Miami Dolphin. And expect the notion of giving Bolles some in-game respites to regain his confidence and composure to remain on ice until James is ready.

James’ knee is good to go. It’s all about his head and his heart now.