Payton Noncommittal on S PJ Locke Playing in Week 12: 'We'll See'

Locke is still nursing an ankle injury.

With Kareem Jackson set to serve his latest suspension, the Denver Broncos again have a hole at its strong safety spot. And, again, backup S PJ Locke should fill that hole — if he's physically able.

Head coach Sean Payton said Monday that it remains to be seen whether Locke, who missed Week 11 with an ankle injury, will play in Sunday's home contest against the Cleveland Browns.

“We’ll see," Payton told reporters. "We’ll see where he’s at. He’s rehabbing. We discussed it this morning. We’ll probably have a better idea mid to later in the week.”

Locke went down in the first half of Denver's Week 10 victory over the Buffalo Bills. The fifth-year defensive back was spotted in a walking boot thereafter and did not practice last week before being ruled out.

Starting two games in Jackson's stead, Locke has registered five solo tackles, one interception, and a pass deflection across 107 snaps this season.

If he cannot go once more, the Broncos would be forced to trot out a combination of Delarrin Turner-Yell and JL Skinner versus Cleveland, with Devon Key a possible practice-squad elevation.

In the meantime, Locke continues to advocate for Jackson's return to the field.

"Hate how the world is labeling my brother KJack right now," he wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) on Tuesday. "Attacking his character is something that doesn’t sit right with me. Wouldn’t be the player and person I am today without these 4+ years with him. Man put his heart and soul in the game and relationships with his Teammates. 14+ years in the league and in the backend of his [career] all the stuff he’s accomplished on and off the field is being darkened. S**t is not right man."

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