Broncos safety P.J. Locke was hitting folks.
The Cleveland Browns faced a fourth-and-14 in the fourth quarter when Locke lined up like he was playing man coverage on tight end David Njoku. The disguise worked as Locke flew into the backfield undetected by the Browns’ offensive line and backup quarterback P.J. Walker, whom he strip-sacked before linebacker Alex Singleton recovered the ball.
The hit was a fitting conclusion to Locke’s day in the Broncos’ 29-12 win over the Browns on Sunday, one he wasn’t even sure he’d be able to play in 24 hours earlier due to an ankle injury.
Locke didn’t miss a step, however, as he made big plays and delivered hits that could be felt in the suite level at Empower Field — including one that could’ve been costly had he and the Denver defense not responded with five straight stops to close out the game.
“(Locke) is a baller, man,” Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II said. “When his (name) gets called upon, he is always going to step up and make plays for us.”
Locke, who missed practice Wednesday, said there were certain movements he wasn’t comfortable with due to his injury. But as the week moved along, he showed progress. He practiced in limited fashion on Thursday before being a full participant on Friday.
Even though Denver desperately needed the depth at safety with Kareem Jackson serving a four-game suspension, head coach Sean Payton said he didn’t want to put Locke on the field if he wasn’t healthy.
When Locke woke up Sunday morning, he knew it was time to cut it loose.
“I knew physically that I probably wouldn’t be 100% but mentally, I knew I could be. That was the biggest thing,” Locke said.
Locke made his presence felt on the first drive of the game. He bolted to the line of scrimmage, stopping Browns running back Jerome Back for no gain. On the following play, Locke broke up starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s pass to wide receiver Amari Cooper.
All told, Locke finished with seven tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
“I’m not asking P.J. to be Kareem, but we got to hold that same level of play, and he did that today,” Broncos safety Justin Simmons said. “He was all around the ball (and) fitting the run game when we needed him to.”
Locke’s performance embodied a physical style of play that was on display by the Broncos’ defense throughout the afternoon. He said the team knew Cleveland would try to come into the game and impose its will, so they wanted to match the Browns’ physicality.
“You could hear that game,” Payton said.
At the same time, Denver’s aggressive nature came with a cost. Locke was flagged for unnecessary roughness after delivering a late hit on Njoku, following an incomplete pass. The penalty moved the Browns to Denver’s 5-yard line before they eventually scored on a Harrison Bryant touchdown catch that cut the deficit to 14-12 with 6:42 left in the third.
Later in the quarter, outside linebacker Baron Browning was flagged for roughing the passer after he rocked Thompson-Robinson on an incomplete pass. The official waited a few seconds before tossing the flag in the air, which led to an uproar from the crowd. After staying on the ground for a prolonged period, Thompson-Robinson jogged off the field, was evaluated for a head injury and never returned.
When Locke was asked if he felt the Broncos, who were penalized eight times Sunday, have a target on their backs because of Jackson’s history with illegal hits, he didn’t bite.
“It’s a part of the game. We have to be smart in certain situations and keep going,” he said.
Locke is not Jackson, but he surely did his best impression to help extend Denver’s win streak to five. While Jackson remains suspended, the Broncos will need this level of play from Locke as they enter the most crucial part of the season.
“(Locke) does things the right way and he’s getting rewarded for that,” Simmons said.
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