When the Denver Broncos traded for Russell Wilson, it reminded the team’s fans of when the franchise acquired Peyton Manning.
Yes, you’ve heard that all offseason. But right after the Manning era, another era begun: the Justin Simmons one. Drafted in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft, Simmons supplanted T.J. Ward as the starting strong safety in 2017.
Perhaps history is repeating itself. This offseason, during the third phase of the offseason program, in the initial absence of starting strong safety Kareem Jackson, P.J. Locke has impressed, according to now-starting free safety Simmons.
“P.J. is great,” Simmons said last week. “We always preach — my thing is, we always preach about ‘next man up.’ One of the guys goes down, you always want to have the guy behind him to plug in and it feels like you’re not losing a step. P.J. is the epitome of that comment. Kareem and I — just in the three years that we have been around him — the questions he asks [and] the attention to detail [he has]. We’re coming and we’re asking coach a question and he’s like, ‘What made you think of that question?’
“It’s questions like that and it’s the reason why when he steps onto the field. I felt like there was not a step lost. Obviously, there’s no replacing a Kareem or replacing other players, but it was easy flow communication with him. You can see his instincts kind of just take over when he’s out there playing. He’s always been a special player and I’m glad [he’s been noticed] publicly — because a lot of people here know — he’s going to be a special player for a while.”
During a practice session last week, Locke jumped in front of a pass to veteran Courtland Sutton and broke it up at the last moment, leaving the wide receiver impressed.
“I looked at the quarterback and I’m like, ‘Alright, I’m wide open,’ and then all of a sudden, I see a flash of white come across my eyes and it’s P.J. making a play,” Sutton said. “You love to see those things because, like I said, we’re getting them better and they’re getting us better at the end of the day …. You love to be able to see guys like P.J. going out there and being able to make plays and making a name for himself — continuing to make a name for himself. You just love to see it.”
Initially signing with the Broncos on a three-year deal in 2019, Jackson is playing on a one-year contract for a second consecutive season. The last year of Jackson’s contract was an option year not exercised, but he re-signed at a lower price.
That said, the door is open for Locke to eventually win more playing time in Denver’s secondary. He joins Caden Sterns and Delarrin Turner-Yell as promising young safeties in waiting.
Follow the Broncos Wire Podcast:
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts