The Broncos are being tested once again with health issues in their secondary.

Denver placed starting safety Brandon Jones on injured reserve on Monday. He will miss at least the final four games of the regular season with a pectoral injury suffered in the first half on Sunday against the Packers. P.J. Locke will now be heavily relied upon to close the season.

Locke came off the bench on Sunday and delivered a clutch performance.

The reserve Broncos safety had played in just 14 total defensive snaps all season entering Week 15. However, after halftime at Empower Field, Locke replaced Jones.

How did Locke — a full-time starter a year ago replaced by free-agent signee Talanoa Hufanga — perform Sunday in a resilient Denver victory, 34-26, over Green Bay?

“Good. I thought real well,” coach Sean Payton said Monday. “(Locke) has played a lot of football.”

Locke played on 34 defensive snaps against the Packers. He logged a pass breakup in the third quarter on Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love’s pass intended for tight end Luke Musgrave. Locke rose up at the high point and swatted away the football near the sideline.

The 28-year-old safety, who went undrafted in 2019 out of the University of Texas, played a key role in stopping Green Bay’s offense in the second half. The Packers were limited to 111 total yards and 10 points over the final two quarters.

Locke is playing well after an offseason health scare. He endured spinal fusion surgery that threatened to end his NFL career. Locke fully recovered to play this season.

“P.J. is a stud. Obviously, just seeing how hard he worked to come back,” defensive tackle Zach Allen said on a Monday teleconference call with reporters. “Last night (against Green Bay), to come in and do what he did was really special. … Everyone in Denver has seen over the past few years how good he can be. So, we’re really excited to have P.J. go.”

The Broncos (12-2) have clinched a playoff berth entering Week 16 at home against the Jaguars (10-4). Denver can clinch the AFC West with a victory and a Chargers (10-4) loss against the Cowboys (6-7-1).

Jones had been among Denver’s most consistent players in the secondary since he signed with the Broncos in 2024 free agency. Starting cornerback Pat Surtain also missed three games earlier this year with a pectoral injury. Locke brings a new perspective after his successful spinal surgery.

“I feel blessed, because it’s just such a miracle to be back out on the field again,” Locke told The Denver Gazette in August. “Everybody was saying I probably wouldn’t be back playing. Now, I’m just focused on being better than I ever was.”