DETROIT – The empty locker next to Justin Verlander’s in the visiting clubhouse at Comerica Park had a No. 35 jersey hanging there Wednesday, but it wasn’t a Mets uniform.

Verlander’s old Tigers jersey had been placed in the locker, just in case the Mets co-ace had forgotten where he was and the fact his debut with his new team would coincide with a homecoming.

The right-hander will be activated from the injured list on Thursday and get an opportunity to contribute to a Mets rotation that finally appears intact, at least for the most part.

“It’s nice to finally sort of get that little energy, that nervousness starts to kick in,” Verlander said.

Combined with Max Scherzer’s return from a 10-game suspension for violating MLB’s rules on foreign substances, the Mets have much of the rotation that was dreamed about all offseason, following Verlander’s arrival on a two-year contract worth $86.6 million.

Verlander spent the last five weeks rehabbing from a strained teres major muscle near his right armpit, an injury that arose late in spring training.

The fact he was allowed to continue throwing and avoid a shutdown during his rehab may have expedited his return by two weeks, according to Verlander.

“I wanted to get back here as soon as possible, but also safely,” said Verlander, who appeared in only one minor league rehab game, last week for Double-A Binghamton, before he was cleared to rejoin the Mets. “In my mind I thought it was a fairly aggressive [approach], but fair in a good way. It’s a little bit of a jump, but I thought it was very doable, especially since I continued throwing since spring training.”

The Mets’ rotation won’t be fully whole: Carlos Carrasco (elbow swelling) is still at least a week away and Jose Quintana (rib surgery) will be sidelined at the minimum into July.

But whereas the Mets’ rotation depth that includes Tylor Megill, Joey Lucchesi and David Peterson has helped keep the team afloat subbing for Carrasco and Quintana, there is no substitute for Verlander.

Now he will get an opportunity to pitch in Detroit for the third time since he was traded by the Tigers in 2017.

The three-time Cy Young award winner spent the first 13 seasons of his major league career with the Tigers before going to the Astros.

“I definitely look at my career and life as chapters,” Verlander said. “I don’t really look at anything really negatively. I just appreciate it for what it was and close that chapter and move on to a new one. I am right in the middle of a brand new chapter with the Mets.”