What would you do to play in an NFL game? Chances are, unlike Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke, you’re not an NFL player. Yet, as a former undrafted defender out of Texas, Locke knows how tough it is to get a chance to fulfill his dream.
After all, Locke sat and waited while 254 other players had their names called over the three-day 2019 NFL Draft before getting an offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent. Locke’s time in Pittsburgh didn’t last long, after being let go during final roster cuts during his rookie year. But Locke did put enough on film to get noticed by the Broncos, who signed him to the practice squad roughly four months later, creating new hope at a second chance.
Locke was cut from an NFL roster twice before getting his first chance to play in a regular season game, well over a year after he left college for the pros. But Locke only played 16 snaps on special teams in his Week 1 debut with the Broncos in 2020. Two weeks later, Locke saw his first two snaps on defense, and he recorded his first NFL stat, a solo tackle. He only saw four more defensive snaps all season.
Then, in 2021, Locke’s playing time increased, but not by much, where he finished with 27 snaps while playing in 17 of 18 games, mostly on special teams. In 2022, Locke’s playing time continued to increase, including a big role on defense for their Week 10 matchup against Tennessee, where he saw 49 defensive snaps. Locke recorded three tackles, a pass deflection, and forced a fumble, his second of the season. For the season, Locke’s playing time nearly quadrupled, with him playing 111 snaps on defense, but this was still peanuts compared to what starters play.
However, now, with Locke five years removed from college, he’s in the midst of his best season yet. Finally given a larger role on defense, Locke has started five games for the Broncos.
