ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos most likely will play Sunday without P.J. Locke as their starting safety has been declared “doubtful” with a thumb injury.
Locke appeared to suffer the injury during practice Wednesday. It’s the type of injury where besides the game Sunday against Carolina, next week’s game at Baltimore would also be in doubt.
These type of injuries to starters happen all the time in the NFL and the Broncos believe they have an able replacement in Devon Key.
“Getting a lot more reps with Brandon this week,’’ Key said, referring to the Broncos’ other starting safety, Brandon Jones. “Communication’s been good so ready to go into Sunday prepared.”
Key’s journey to starting safety isn’t all that different from Locke’s path. Locke played four years at Texas, went undrafted in 2019 and spent the better part of four years on practice squads and back-end of rosters before getting his chance to start for the Broncos last season.
Key was a four-year starter at Western Kentucky who went undrafted in 2020, spent time on practice squads with the Chiefs, Falcons and Broncos before getting his chance to start Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
“P.J.’s done a great job explaining his journey and letting me know it takes time in this league being an undrafted guy,’’ Key said. “He helped me stay the course and let me know my time is coming soon.”
In college, Key was an aggressive tackler as a box safety.
“But I also can get a little rangy and play center field,’’ he said.
Key started during the preseason next to Locke in place of Jones, who was dealing with a hamstring strain.
“I would say he made some hay in camp and in the preseason games where we felt like this guy has good instincts,’’ head coach Sean Payton said of Key. “He played well, and so if he has to go, he’ll be ready. He has gotten a lot of the work. We’re fortunate. We’ve seen his progress, and here we go. If that happens, next man up.”
Surtain returns
After missing the game last Thursday at New Orleans because of a concussion, Broncos’ cornerback Pat Surtain II said he wasn’t planning on wearing a guardian cap on top of his helmet for the game this Sunday against Carolina. He said he considered it but those guardian caps have some heft to them and Surtain needs all the speed and quickness he can get as a cornerback.
It was no minor concussion – Surtain held his head in pain after his helmet slammed on the Empower Field grass turf after breaking up the first pass of the game two weeks ago against the Chargers. Surtain said he would not have cleared the concussion protocol had the Saints’ game been backed to the normal Sunday date.
“I had one in high school, that was the only I had in my career,’’ Surtain said. “I was just in a bit of a shock mode, I didn’t know what to expect. When they ruled it a concussion I took it from there and went through protocol. I had some slight symptoms but I was pretty optimistic about playing this week.”
Bronco Bits
With the trade deadline approaching, Payton was asked if he’d received calls from teams interested in one of the Broncos’ veteran backup QBs, Jarrett Stidham and/or Zach Wilson: “We’ll get teasers,’’ Payton said. “A team a couple weeks ago, ‘Hey.’ When there’s a call that is somewhat substantial, it’s still like the beginning process. ‘Hey, this is what we might …’
“George (Paton, the Broncos’ general manager) and I talk about it each day, but we’re focused on this right now. I understand it, and yet it’s pretty normal. There’s a group of teams shopping a certain list of players, and some teams are easier to do a deal with maybe than others. Right now, I like where we’re at with this group.” …
Right tackle Alex Palczewski, who has missed the past two games with a high ankle sprain, is listed as questionable to play Sunday. Former Bronco inside linebacker Josey Jewell, now with Carolina, is also listed as questionable. Jewell sat out the previous three games with a hamstring injury.
