November 8th 2024.
As P.J. Locke went through Denver's practice on October 23rd, he felt a twinge in his left wrist. Initially, he thought it might just be a sprain from a simple move he had done countless times before. Despite the pain, he pushed through the defensive drills, determined to finish what he started. However, as frustration set in after taking a bad angle during a drill, he suddenly realized that something was seriously wrong.
In his own words, Locke recalled the moment, saying, "I was like, 'oh,' I was like, 'something's wrong.' So I took off and it was dislocated." It turned out that Locke had dislocated his left thumb and suffered an avulsion fracture. Although he needed surgery, the injury wasn't as severe as initially feared, and he only had to sit out for two weeks.
Fortunately, Locke was able to return to practice on Friday, where he was listed as a full participant. Despite wearing a club on his left hand, he was determined to play in Sunday's game against Kansas City after missing the past two games. Head coach Sean Payton confirmed that Locke had a good week of practice and was feeling well. He also mentioned that it was good to have him back on the field, getting some defensive reps.
Locke himself was relieved that his injury wasn't more serious, saying, "I think I dodged a bullet, honestly. It could have been a lot worse. Where I had the fracture, it was the best-case scenario for a thumb." However, he will have to continue wearing the club for several weeks as he recovers.
One of the challenges for Locke will be adapting to playing with a club on his hand. When asked about his catching ability with the new setup, Payton joked that he wasn't sure how good Locke's hands were to begin with. However, he also expressed confidence in Locke's ball skills and didn't believe the club would hinder him on the field.
Locke laughed at Payton's comment and added, "Sean is always trying to give me a hard time, man. He knows what's up. That's all I'll say about that. It's going to be a challenge, but hey, I'm up for it. They've got no excuses now. They can't say, 'he can't catch.' I've got a freaking cast on."
Initially, Locke was worried that he would be out for four weeks or more. However, after trainers were able to put his thumb back in place, further imaging revealed that surgery was necessary due to the extent of the damage. Locke reflected on the situation, saying, "Something so simple as far as a routine play. I do that gesture a million times and it probably wouldn't happen again. Just a freak accident, honestly."
Off the field, Locke has been sporting a black cast that some of his teammates have signed, similar to a middle schooler injured on the playground. But his teammates will be glad to have him back on the field against the Chiefs. Locke shared his mindset, saying, "I just have that mindset of 'by any means necessary.' Sean upholds us to that standard, too. If we can go, we can go. There might be some restrictions here and there, but it's just playing assignment-sound football...Other than that, just go out there and give it your all. I want to be part of something special and I think we have something special going here. I don't think nobody wants to miss that."
In terms of roster changes, the Broncos have one spot open after trading Baron Browning earlier in the week. It's likely that inside linebacker Kwon Alexander will fill that spot, as he has played extensively in the past three games and can't be elevated from the practice squad again. However, linebacker Drew Sanders and safety Delarrin Turner-Yell are both ruled out, meaning they won't return from the physically unable to perform list. Center Luke Wattenberg is listed as questionable and could potentially be activated from the injured reserve on Saturday.
If Wattenberg does return, the question will be whether he takes back the starting spot or if Alex Forsyth continues at center. Payton spoke highly of Forsyth, saying, "He's smart. He's exceptionally smart, which is a good trait for a center. He's durable, he's physical. We felt in camp - he got so many reps with the No. 1s, that it was a real close battle."
One possible move to clear a roster spot for Wattenberg would be to waive Calvin Throckmorton, who was brought up from the practice squad three times and has been on the 53-man roster for a week while Wattenberg was out. Another option would be to elevate fullback Michael Burton from the practice squad, as he still has one more elevation left before he would have to be added to the 53-man roster. Fans can stay updated on all the latest Broncos news by signing up for the Broncos Insider newsletter.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
