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Decision looms for Broncos: Kareem Jackson or P.J. Locke?

Head coach Sean Payton will have a tough call when Jackson returns from suspension next week as Locke is playing well.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo — Kareem Jackson will play Santa Claus – “Jackaclaus” he calls it – for 50 young people this evening at a Walmart in Parker.

With the way P.J. Locke has been playing as Jackson’s replacement, Jackaclaus may have to exercise all his magical powers to get his starting safety job back when his four-game suspension expires in time for the Broncos’ Christmas Eve night game against the New England Patriots.

Jackson has been a 14-year starting defensive back in the league – nine as a Houston Texans' cornerback and the past five as a Broncos safety. But he has been suspended twice for a total of six games because of what the league said was repeated unnecessary roughness hits, leaving the starting lineup tunnel open for Locke.

Utilizing his speed, timing and instincts, Locke has recorded a sack in three consecutive games – a feat no other safety in the 64-year history of the Broncos has accomplished.

Think of all the great Broncos safeties beginning with Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin, who had six interceptions in the first two games in Broncos’ history in 1960. Then there was Billy Thompson, Steve Foley, Dennis Smith, Steve Atwater, John Lynch, T.J. Ward and now Justin Simmons, not to mention Kareem.

None of them could do what Locke just did. So who starts when Jackson returns?

“It is a good problem to have,’’ Broncos head coach Sean Payton said in his day-after-game Zoom conference call Monday morning with the Denver media. “It seems like it’s still a ways away yet. We’ll have to deal with it when it gets here, but I think you bring up a couple good points. Certainly, we’ve noticed how he’s been playing, P.J.”

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