The Dallas Cowboys officially brought safety P.J. Locke back to the active roster from injured reserve, a move announced Saturday that delivers added health to their safety room. After being sidelined for weeks, Locke’s return is a welcome sight as the team continues to navigate the grueling NFL season.
Locke’s Journey Back From Injury
Man, it’s been a minute since we saw Locke out there. He hit injured reserve way back on September 26, which was just six days after he messed up his foot. We last saw him on the field in Week 2, playing a measly three snaps during the win against Washington. He pulled up trying to tackle running back Rachaad White, and that was it. Prior to that, he’d logged three tackles across the first two games. The good news is he got back to practice on October 23, showing he was getting closer, and now he’s officially back on the 53-man roster.
Impact on the Safety Room and Other Roster Moves
Locke’s activation is big because it shores up the secondary, giving them some much-needed bodies. While Malik Hooker has been holding it down, the team has seen Caleb Downs, Markquese Bell, and Alijah Clark rotating through the safety spot opposite him in recent weeks. And let’s not forget, safety Jalen Thompson is still chilling on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, so this isn’t the last of their injury woes back there.
In other roster moves, the Cowboys also elevated tight end James Mitchell from the practice squad. Mitchell, who was a fifth-round pick by the Lions back in 2022, has played 35 games in his career. This move comes as tight end Luke Schoonmaker is dealing with a groin injury, which kept him out of practice both Thursday and Friday, leaving him questionable.
So, while not every piece is perfectly in place, getting P.J. Locke back on the field is a step in the right direction for the Cowboys defense, especially with some lingering injuries elsewhere. Let’s see how they use him in the coming weeks and if that added health can really make a difference.
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Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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