Good morning, Broncos Country!
The absence of Tim Patrick has been felt in the last two seasons.
You could argue that he’s the most important piece to the offense, especially with a rookie quarterback who needs consistency from the wide receiver position.
But after a pair of season-ending injuries in training camp, ACL and Achilles, and being north of 30, how much is left for Patrick? After all, Patrick hasn’t played in a game for Denver since Jan. 8, 2022, against the Kansas City Chiefs.
As he told the Broncos website after a pair of practices:
“I felt like myself. I felt twitchy. I felt like I was running (full speed). Honestly, I think I’m right there where I was three years ago, right now.”
The fact Patrick has the confidence that he does is huge. That’s the first step to becoming the player he expects to become again, and one the Broncos have sorely missed. Hopefully, the string of awful injury luck is behind Patrick, and he can return to being a Rod Smith-esque receiver. There’s no doubt Denver has missed his contributions on the field and as a leader.
“Granted, I wasn’t here (when he last played in a game), but I kind of have an idea or vision for the player,” Broncos head coach Sean Payton told the Denver media during minicamp. “Then all the other things that he brings relative to his competitiveness, his versatility. He’s a great teammate. I think he’s an important part of the locker room, so it’s good to see him more and be smart with that.”
Now that Patrick made it out of OTAs and minicamp the next hurdle is training camp. That’s one he hasn’t cleared in two years. But if he can do that and get on the field, he’ll make the Broncos offense that much better.
As he told the Broncos website:
“I pride myself on being able to do a little bit of everything, and I feel like when you have that wild card on the field, a defense can’t hone in on ‘This guy’s going to do that, this guy’s going to do that.’ With me, I can do everything on the field, so they have to play me honest.
“Once you play me honest, I feel like I’m going to win my one-on-one most of the time. I think I can help with just keeping drives longer with tough catches on third down and making those plays that people don’t expect you to make for touchdowns, for first downs. … I think the biggest thing I’m going to bring is keeping the offense on the field for longer and more plays, so that means more opportunities for touchdowns.”
Broncos news
Denver Broncos hire former Standford Coach | 9news.com
David Shaw interviewed for the NFL team’s head coach position in 2023 and will now serve as a personnel executive to evaluate players on the team led by Sean Payton.
Broncos’ three-way battle at QB: Nix, Stidham or Wilson? – ESPN
There wasn’t separation during the offseason program, as the Broncos used it to prep all three quarterbacks for the competition to come.
Why Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto could be key to pass-rush renaissance – The Athletic
Young linebacker saw his production spike with a greater opportunity last season, and he’s searching for ways to add to his game in Year 3.
NFL news
Former Denver Broncos OL slams Steelers QB Russell Wilson – Behind the Steel Curtain
The former Bronco had a lot to say.
NFL legend Barry Sanders suffered ‘health scare’ during Father’s Day weekend – CBSSports.com
Sanders’ health scare was related to his heart
Brandon Aiyuk trade rumors: Here’s where things currently stand between 49ers and their star WR – CBSSports.com
The entire league is waiting to see how this plays out
The lawsuit against NFL by ‘Sunday Ticket’ subscribers, explained | AP News
The way the NFL can distribute its package of out-of-market games could be decided in federal court as the result of a class-action lawsuit.
Julian Edelman: Aaron Rodgers skipping mandatory minicamp is a “bad look” – NBC Sports
A fellow member of the Super Bowl MVP club criticizes the Jets QB.
