ENGLEWOOD — Broncos safety Talanoa Hufanga is known for hard hitting, and now he wants to fight massive San Francisco tackle Trent Williams.

OK, so he was joking.

Hufanga, who was named first-team All-Pro in 2022 and played his first four seasons with the 49ers, will make a return to San Francisco for an Aug. 7 joint practice and the Aug. 9 preseason opener against the 49ers. It figures to be an eventful time with the added attraction of Denver’s other marquee defensive free-agent signing, linebacker Dre Greenlaw, having played the past six seasons for San Francisco.

“I always joke around (and) I’m going to tell Trent that I’m going to start a fight with him just for fun,’’ Hufanga said Thursday about the 6-foot-5, 320-pound Williams, an 11-time Pro Bowl selection. “(He’s) probably the last person you guys want to fight. I’m going to tell you guys that right now. Trent Williams is not the one. All jokes aside, I’m very blessed and excited to be (going back to San Francisco).”

For now, foremost on Hufanga’s mind is Friday’s first official day of training camp at Broncos Park. It will follow Hufanga and other veterans on the team reporting Tuesday and acclimation practices being held Wednesday and Thursday.

“I’m excited to see all that orange (in the stands),’’ Hufanga said. “I know they fill it up. I know that we have the construction or else there would be more fans out there, but I’m very excited and very blessed to be here.”

Due to ongoing construction at Broncos Park, the 13 practices open at training camp will be capped at 800 fans for each one.

Friday will mark the first time fans will see Hufanga in action for Denver. Broncos Hall of Fame safety Steve Atwater, the team’s fan engagement manager, figures they will be impressed.

“You just love his personality,’’ Atwater told The Denver Gazette. “You turn on the film and you see the way he flies around, the way he works, a great communicator. He’s going to be a great leader. It’s a great, great addition to this team.”

Hufanga is in line to be a starter alongside Brandon Jones, rated by Pro Football Focus last season as the NFL’s third-best safety. The two could form one of the NFL’s best duos on the back end.

“I’m excited for it,’’ Hufanga said about how he is settling in with his new team. “I love being here. I think this is one of the best places in the world. For me, it’s just attacking it like it is year two (with the Broncos) and making sure I’m up to speed that fast so I can make it feel comfortable. I am excited to thrive with a bunch of guys around me.”

Hufanga’s “year two” mention was about how Jones during spring drills said he was feeling much more comfortable in his second season with the Broncos than he initially had after arriving as a free-agent signing in 2024. Hufanga has quickly formed a close relationship with Jones.

Hufanga and Jones both had the same position coach in college. Craig Naviar was safeties coach at Texas from 2017-19, when Jones was there, and had that coaching position at USC from 2020-21, when Hufanga was there.

“I watched a lot of (Jones) film throughout college, and so I already knew a lot about him, seeing the way he plays and how fast he is,’’ Hufanga said. “He’s probably one of the fastest players on the team, and so to see him in person was just amazing. The cool thing about it is the first week I got here, he’s like, ‘Hey, do you want to get work in?’ And there was no hesitation. … It was really cool to see him, a veteran like that step up to lead another vet in the right way.”

Hufanga signed a three-year, $39 million contract with Denver in March. He is now the NFL’s 12th-highest paid safety based on his average annual salary of $13 million. The Broncos got a bit of a discount on him due to injuries he battled the past two seasons.

Hufanga suffered a season-ending torn ACL in November 2023 and missed the last seven games. In 2024, he sat out 10 games while still recovering from the knee injury and suffering a torn wrist ligament, and played in seven overall, including the final five.

“(It’s the) same physical play,’’ Hufanga said of returning after injuries. “I think for me, you have got to take care of the body even more and have no regrets in everything I do. I go out there to play the game the right way, and that’s playing fast and playing physical. Injuries happen, that’s part of the game. For me, I’m just going to step on that field and have confidence that I can play the game I play.”

Come next month, Hufanga can give the 49ers in the joint practice and preseason opener a look at what they once had in the secondary.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity (the 49ers) gave me,’’ Hufanga said. “My first four years there were special. I had a lot of great moments. … It was a special place in my heart.’’

When Hufanga returns to San Francisco, he won’t really get in a fight with Williams. But there could be some physical activity if he comes in on a safety blitz.