Dallas's defense continues to strengthen after early-season injuries have left the unit scrambling at times just to field 11 players over their first six contests.

The Cowboys opened the 21-day practice window for safety P.J. Locke on Friday, signaling that the eighth-year veteran is close to making his return from a torn plantar fascia suffered in September and four missed outings.

He's the latest Cowboys defender to hit the pathway back to the lineup; linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, cornerback Cobie Durant, and linebacker Marist Liufau all returned to practice this week as well.

Locke has played just 31 snaps for the Dallas defense in this, his first year wearing the star, but his renewed availability should put coordinator Christian Parker closer to his preferred gameday personnel as the Cowboys enter a stretch of their schedule that will likely decide their 2026 outlook.

The season opener saw the Cowboys start four defensive linemen, two linebackers on the middle level, and five defensive backs: rookie Caleb Downs as the nickel, two corners, and two safeties, Malik Hooker and Jalen Thompson. Week 2 in Washington used the same positional deployments, with Locke starting in place of Hooker, who had fractured a forearm versus the Giants.

By Week 3, Locke had gone down (after just three snaps against the Commanders), and Dallas mixed things up further to prepare for the Ravens' running attack of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry: an extra D-tackle up front and only one safety- Thompson- on the back end. Thompson did not make it through that game due to a hamstring injury. He's on IR but could start practicing again next week.

Hooker thankfully returned in Week 4, but the Cowboys had to supplement him at safety by borrowing Markquese Bell and Alijah Clark from special teams, shifting Downs off some of his nickel duties, and even promoting Juanyeh Thomas, who they had just signed to the practice squad four days prior.

That's been the Cowboys' safety platoon for the past three games. Of the team's listed safeties, Bell, who started the season as a backup on the depth chart, leads the group in defensive snaps, with nearly 50%.

Locke's return will be a welcome development indeed.

His official status for the Week 7 meeting with the Eagles, though, has not been revealed. It's likely the team will want to give him more of a ramp-up at practice before making him active, so an appearance Monday night seems like a long shot.

But he- and the Cowboys defense the way it was drawn up to start the once-promising season- is getting closer.