Latest news with #MyBreakthrough
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Broncos safety P.J. Locke underwent spinal fusion surgery
We now know why Denver Broncos safety P.J. Locke was sidelined this spring. The 28-year-old defensive back revealed in a 14-minute YouTube documentary, "My Breakthrough," that he underwent spinal fusion surgery this offseason. It's an uncommon procedure for active NFL players, but former quarterback Peyton Manning did continue his pro football career after multiple surgeries. Locke said that after the Broncos were knocked out of the playoffs in January, he had an MRI and was told he needed immediate back surgery. The video's description says there were "no guarantees" Locke would be able to play football again, but about six months post-surgery, he provided a positive update. 'Even the little bit of pain I do have from certain movements, it's nothing compared to what I was dealing with during the season,' Locke says in the video. 'I feel like it's been a miracle. I feel like it's a breakthrough I've been praying for. It came out of a blessing that I wasn't expecting.' Locke suffered through his back injury last fall, playing exactly 1,000 snaps on defense. Players named Locke the team's Ed Block Courage Award winner at the end of the season. Recipients of the award demonstrate "exceptional courage, great character and inspiring effort." After undergoing surgery with Dr. Chad Prusmack, Locke will now compete for playing time in Denver's secondary following the arrival of new safety Talanoa Hufanga. Broncos coach Sean Payton has said wide receiver A.T. Perry is the only player expected to be sidelined at the start of training camp, which presumably means Locke is on track to return to the field when camp begins later this month. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
NBC Sports
03-07-2025
- Health
- NBC Sports
P.J. Locke underwent spinal fusion surgery during the offseason
Broncos safety P.J. Locke underwent back surgery shortly after the team's playoff loss to the Bills, he announced in a 14-minute YouTube video. The first episode of the personal documentary series, 'My Breakthrough,' lays out that there were 'no guarantees that P.J. would return to play football ever again' as one of the first NFL players to undergo spinal fusion surgery. Locke shared a meeting with his surgeon, Dr. Chad Prusmack, on Feb. 10 after surgery. The degenerated discs in Locke's L4 and L5 vertebrae led to bone-on-bone, and Prusmack fused the spine with a 'cage' and screws. 'How I felt the first week after surgery. It's like: 'Oh, my God. I don't know how I'm going to get better after this,'' Locke said in the video, via Kyle Frederickson of the Denver Gazette. Five months later, though, Locke said he's 'got no pain levels.' 'Even the little bit of pain I do have from certain movements, it's nothing compared to what I was dealing with during the season,' Locke said. 'I feel like it's been a miracle. I feel like it's a breakthrough I've been praying for. It came out of a blessing that I wasn't expecting.' Locke was named the team's Ed Block Courage Award winner in January. No one outside the locker room realized exactly what he was going through to get on the field for 15 games last season. He played 1,000 defensive snaps in the regular season and all 76 snaps in the postseason loss. Locke did not participate in the team's offseason program as he continued his rehab. He is expected to compete for safety snaps after the Broncos signed Talanoa Hufanga in free agency.
