Tag: P.J. Locke

Justin Simmons sounds noncommittal on re-signing with Falcons in 2025

Justin Simmons sounds noncommittal on re-signing with the Falcons in 2025. Should the Broncos bring him back?

After signing a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons last August, veteran safety Justin Simmons is now scheduled to become a free agent in March.

Simmons, 31, was asked after Atlanta’s season wrapped up if he wants to re-sign with the Falcons in 2025. There was no immediate “I’d like to.” Rather, the safety sounded noncommittal on his status in Atlanta.

“That’s a really good question,” Simmons said, via Terrin Waack of the Falcons’ official website. “It’s hard. Honestly, I haven’t even thought about it. The mindset coming into [Week 18] was, we’re going to take care of business … [and make the playoffs]. So, I honestly haven’t given that a thought.”

Simmons did go on to say that he loved Atlanta and he said the team is in good hands, but he did not specifically say that he wants to return. Make of that what you will.

Meanwhile, former Denver Broncos safety and ex-Simmons teammate Su’a Cravens has hinted on social media that Simmons is open to returning to the Broncos. Brandon Jones had an excellent season in 2024 but P.J. Locke struggled, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Denver add a safety in 2025.

Perhaps a reunion with the Broncos could be in play for Simmons. NFL free agency will begin on March 12.

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Von Miller embraced Broncos players after knocking them out of playoffs

Von Miller embraced Garett Bolles and Courtland Sutton after the Bills knocked the Broncos out of the NFL playoffs on Sunday.

After the Buffalo Bills knocked the Denver Broncos out of the NFL playoffs with a 31-7 win on Sunday, pass rusher Von Miller showed love to several former teammates.

Miller embraced left tackle Garett Bolles and wide receiver Garett Bolles — the two longest-tenured Broncos — and then took a photo with them.

Here’s video, from KOA Radio’s TikTok page:

Miller also took a photo with cornerback Pat Surtain, safety P.J. Locke and current Bills safety Kareem Jackson:

Miller, of course, played for the Broncos from 2011-2021. Before Sunday’s game, Denver’s last playoff appearance was a 24-10 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50 following the 2015 season. Miller took home Super Bowl MVP honors that day with 2.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Miller has made it clear that he still has love for the Broncos and their fans, and he plans to one day return to Denver. Miller and the Bills will now move on to face the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round of the 2024-2025 NFL playoffs.

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Broncos safety P.J. Locke fined $13,972 for unnecessary roughness vs. Bengals

Broncos safety P.J. Locke was fined $13,972 for unnecessary roughness against the Bengals in Week 17.

Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke was fined $13,972 for unnecessary roughness in the team’s 30-24 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 17, according to multiple reports.

Locke used his helmet when tackling Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki in the third quarter. The infraction was not penalized during the game, but the NFL handed down a fine after reviewing the film.

Elsewhere on the fine front, defensive lineman Malcolm Roach lost his appeal to have his fine for a “violent gesture” reduced. Roach says he was gesturing to show a seatbelt against the New Orleans Saints in Week 7. The NFL interpreted it as showing a gun, and the league upheld his $14,069 fine.

Locke ($41,916) has been the team’s most-fined player this season, followed by Roach ($36,579), safety Brandon Jones ($28,138), pass rusher Nik Bonitto ($17,582), Cooper ($12,668), cornerback Pat Surtain ($11,255), fullback Mike Burton ($7,653), center Luke Wattenberg ($5,872), tight end Lucas Krull ($5,083), running back Blake Watson ($4,463) and safety Devon Key ($4,417).

The money the league receives from fines is “donated to the Professional Athletes Foundation to support Legends in need and the NFL Foundation to further support the health, safety and wellness of athletes across all levels,” per the NFL.

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Broncos CB Pat Surtain, OLB Jonathon Cooper and DB P.J. Locke win 2024 awards

Broncos CB Pat Surtain and OLB Jonathon Cooper earned local media awards and DB P.J. Locke earned the team’s Ed Block Courage Award.

On a day when several Denver Broncos received Pro Bowl honors, three Broncos teammates earned local and national accolades.

Denver cornerback Pat Surtain and outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper earned the Demaryius Thomas Team MVP award and the Darrent Williams Good Guy award, respectively. These two awards were presented to the players by the Pro Football Writers of America Denver Chapter.

Cooper is the 15th different player to win the Darrent Williams Good Guy award, and the first outside linebacker to win the award since Demarcus Ware in 2016.

“The award is given annually to the Bronco who best exemplifies Williams’ enthusiasm, cooperation and honesty while dealing with members of the press,” according to a press release from the team.

The award is named after former Bronco Darrent Williams, who died after a New Years Eve party following his second season with the team in 2007.

Meanwhile, Surtain won his third team MVP in a row. The Demaryius Thomas MVP award “is given annually to the player who best exhibits Thomas’ impact on the team, both on and off the field,” said the release. This is the fourth year the award has been in existence, with the only other recipient being former safety Broncos Justin Simmons.

The third player to receive an award was safety P.J. Locke, who was awarded by his teammates as the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award winner. The award is a teammate-voted honor, given to those “who exemplify commitment to the principles of sportsmanship. Recipients are selected by their teammates for exceptional courage, great character and inspiring effort,” according to the team.

Congratulations to these Broncos players for their dedication and for their awards!

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Broncos players laugh about Jonathan Taylor’s ‘early Christmas present’

Jonathan Taylor’s fumble was “an early Christmas present,” leaving Broncos players all in smiles in the locker room after the win.

Early in the third quarter of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor ripped off a 41-yard touchdown run to give his team a 13-point lead. Well, almost.

After review, officials determined that Taylor dropped the ball just before crossing the goal line. Taylor’s fumble rolled out of the end zone for a touchback. So instead of scoring a touchdown, Taylor gave the ball back to Denver.

Following that game-altering play, the Broncos went on to score 24 unanswered points in an eventual 31-13 victory. Denver coach Sean Payton was flabbergasted when asked about the play after the game.

“That was significant,” Payton said. “I don’t get it, but I’m not going to try to. That was a significant play that you go from breaking a long run for a touchdown for your team to us having the ball.”

Payton was asked if the play could be a teachable moment for his own players.

“Fair question,” Payton said. “I cannot recall covering that. It would not be a teaching point. I think that will be difficult for the coaches and every one of his teammates. It’ll just be difficult, I don’t get it. I’ll leave it at that. I don’t want to say something.”

At the risk of putting words in the coach’s mouth, it seemed that Payton might have been suggesting such a scenario shouldn’t even need to be taught because it’s common sense to not drop the ball before you score. Those are Broncos Wire’s words, though, as Payton was careful to not say too much.

Denver’s players, on the other hand, weren’t quite as diplomatic.

Broncos pass rusher Jonathon Cooper gave Taylor a shoutout in the locker room, Nik Bonitto said he was happy the running back bailed out the defense and safety P.J. Locke thanked the “football Gods.” Everyone had big smiles when asked about the play.

The best reaction of the night came from defensive back Brandon Jones.

“I think it was kind of fitting for the kind of season it is,” Jones said, via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. “It’s an early Christmas present, which we are super grateful for it and we appreciated it so much.”

Denver defensive lineman John-Franklin Myers also had a great reaction:

Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton said any Denver players who made such a blunder would have to answer to the wrath of Payton.

As for Taylor himself, the running back took responsibility for the blunder.

“It just can’t happen,” Taylor said. “No matter the game, no matter the scenario, you could be up 50, down by 50, in a playoff game, the first game of the season. That should never happen.”

Taylor said he apologized to his teammates and vowed never to let it happen again.

“I told them, I apologized, and I just know that it will never happen again,” the running back said. “That has never happened to me before, and it will never happen again.”

The Broncos are now just one more win away from clinching a spot in the NFL playoffs. Indy’s postseason hopes are now all but dead.

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Sean Payton pleased with Broncos’ safety play this season

“I like how we’re playing [at safety],” Broncos coach Sean Payton said.

Last year, the Denver Broncos went into the season with Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson as their starting safeties. Caden Sterns was listed as a co-starter with Jackson, but he suffered a torn patellar tendon in Week 1. That injury left P.J. Locke, Delarrin Turner-Yell and JL Skinner as the team’s backup safeties in 2023.

Simmons played at his typical Pro Bowl level in 2023, but Jackson served two suspensions and was eventually released. Locke ended up starting eight games as a fill-in starter last season.

After parting ways with Jackson late in the 2023 season and releasing Simmons this spring, Denver signed Brandon Jones during free agency. Jones has been starting across from Locke this year, and they have been a dynamic safety duo for the Broncos.

Jones has recorded 79 tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery through 11 games.

“We’re better overall on the backend at that position than we were a year ago,” coach Sean Payton said of the safety positon. “We’ve played a few different guys back there, but I like how we’re playing. We’re communicating. Our guys on defense, Vance [Joseph] and Jim Leonhard and all those guys are doing a fantastic job. We’re definitely I would say further along, and it was a good performance by those guys [Sunday].”

Denver’s backup safeties behind Jones and Locke are Devon Key and Skinner. Payton clearly feels that the Jones-Locke-Key-Skinner combination is better than the Simmons-Jackson-Locke-Turner-Yell rotation from last year. (Jackson, as one might expect, disagreed with that assessment.)

Jones and Locke will look to build on their impressive campaign when the Broncos host the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football in Week 13.

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Kareem Jackson was not pleased with Sean Payton’s latest comments

Sean Payton said the Broncos are “better overall” at safety this year than they were last season. Kareem Jackson clearly disagrees.

During his conference call with reporters on Monday, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked about the team’s current safety duo of Brandon Jones and P.J. Locke.

During his response, Payton said, “We’re better overall on the backend at that position than we were a year ago.” Last year, Denver’s starting safeties going into the season were Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson.

Jackson saw Payton’s quote on Twitter/X and it’s safe to say he doesn’t agree with the coach’s stance.

“🤣🤣 if it’s one thing I’ve learned in this league after being in it for 15 years, some of these coaches will say any damn thing!” Jackson tweeted on Monday. “Even if it’s them putting their foot in their mouth lol!! S/o PJ and B Jones cause I love what they doing this year!! Keep going fellas 🫡”

Locke became a fill-in starter for the Broncos last year while Jackson served two separate suspensions. After Jackson returned from his second suspension, Payton cut him.

Jackson, 36, finished last season with the Houston Texans and he is now on the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad.

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Broncos release Friday injury report: Safety returns with cast

Broncos safety P.J. Locke (thumb) is poised to return to the starting lineup this week, but he will be wearing a cast.

Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke practiced all three days this week and he appears set to play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday after missing the team’s last two games.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said after Friday’s practice that Locke will wear a small cast on his hand to protect his thumb for several weeks.

Elsewhere on the injury front, center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) was a full participant on Thursday and Friday, but he is officially listed as questionable for Sunda’s game. Once Wattenberg returns from injured reserve, Denver will have to make room for him on the active roster.

Safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) have been ruled out, so they’ll have to wait at least one more week before being activated from the physically unable to perform list.

View the team’s final injury report below.

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
DE Zach Allen (NIR – rest) Limited Full Full
DL D.J. Jones (knee) Full Full Full
DB P.J. Locke (thumb) Full Full Full
OT Mike McGlinchey (knee) Limited Full Full
DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) Full Full Full Out
C Luke Wattenberg (ankle) Limited Full Full Questionable
LB Drew Sanders (Achilles) Limited Limited Limited Out

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map). Playing at home, KC is considered a heavy favorite against the Broncos.

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Broncos release Thursday injury report: WR still sidelined

Broncos OL Luke Wattenberg (IR) and LB Drew Sanders (PUP) have returned to practice, but WR Josh Reynolds (IR) remains sidelined.

The Denver Broncos opened the windows for center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) to return from injury lists this week. Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (finger) is also eligible to return, but the team has not yet opened his 21-day window.

Reynolds remains on injured reserve and the team has not designated him to return. Once he eventually returns to practice, Reynolds will have a three-week window to be activated to the 53-man roster.

Reynolds was shot twice after leaving a club on Oct. 18. The team described his wounds as minor, so that does not seem to be impacting his IR status.

Denver has a backlog of players returning to the active roster soon, and the Broncos probably aren’t rushing Reynolds.

Elsewhere on the injury front, safety P.J. Locke (thumb) fully participated again on Thursday, seemingly putting him on track to play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

View the Broncos’ complete Thursday injury report below.

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
DL D.J. Jones (knee) Full Full
DB P.J. Locke (thumb) Full Full
DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) Full Full
DE Zach Allen (NIR – rest) Limited Full
OT Mike McGlinchey (knee) Limited Full
LB Drew Sanders (Achilles) Limited Limited
C Luke Wattenberg (ankle) Limited Full

The Broncos will practice again on Friday before releasing a final injury report with game statuses for Sunday’s matchup in Kansas City.

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Broncos release Wednesday injury report: 2 players return to practice

Broncos OL Luke Wattenberg (ankle) and LB Drew Sanders (Achilles) returned to practice on Wednesday.

Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke (thumb) fully practiced on Wednesday after missing the team’s last two games. Locke now appears set to return to the starting lineup this week. Devon Key filled in while Locke was sidelined for the last two weeks.

Elsewhere on the injury front, Broncos center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) was designated to return from injured reserve and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) opened his 21-day win to return from the physically unable to perform list.

Wattenberg has three weeks to return from IR and Sanders has the same amount of time to return from the PUP list. If they ae not activated to the 53-man roster within that three-week window, Wattenberg and Sanders will remain on reserve for the rest of the season.

As for the Kansas City Chiefs, quarterback Patrick Mahomes (ankle) fully practiced Wednesday after tweaking his ankle in Week 9.

View the Broncos’ complete Wednesday injury report below.

Player Wed Thur Fri Game Status
DL D.J. Jones (knee) Full
DB P.J. Locke (thumb) Full
DB Delarrin Turner-Yell (knee) Full
DE Zach Allen (NIR – rest) Limited
OT Mike McGlinchey (knee) Limited
LB Drew Sanders (Achilles) Limited
C Luke Wattenberg (ankle) Limited

The Broncos will practice again on Thursday and Friday before releasing a final injury report with game statuses for Sunday’s game in Kansas City.

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