By mid-September, Lockwood was still not ready to return to competition. However, by the latter part of the month, during the week of his 24th birthday, he posted on his Instagram account videos of him getting on some practice bulls. He was hoping to return to competition at the UTB event in Greensboro, North Carolina, in early October. However, he later stated that his groin was not feeling well and decided to skip said event. He finally made his return at the last regular-season UTB event of 2021 in Lincoln, Nebraska. In Round 1, he was bucked off by Speck. He stated that when he nodded his head for the chute gate to open, he then squeezed his legs against the bull’s sides to get a hold as usual, but then heard a pop from his groin area and immediately knew something was not right. After his buck off, he hobbled off the arena and checked in with the PBR sports medicine team. After evaluation from the PBR’s medical director, Dr. Tandy Freeman, who suggested there might be scar tissue buildup on Lockwood’s groin, Lockwood decided to finish his 2021 season right then and there, ending the worst season of his career; one where he failed to qualify for the PBR World Finals for the first time since turning professional as a result of a year riddled with injuries and a poor riding percentage. He decided to recuperate for 2022.
