Tim Patrick has had quite a journey over the last three years.
The veteran Denver Broncos wide receiver tore his ACL early in 2022 during training camp and missed that entire season. After rehabbing and getting back on the field in 2023, Patrick tore his Achilles at camp and missed all of last season.
After back-to-back serious injuries, Patrick rehabbed again and got back on the field this summer. He looked like his old self on Sunday night, hauling in four receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers.
“Players were excited in there for him,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after the game. “He had a big smile on his face. … [W]hen you have one of those injuries, it’s quiet, it’s lonely, everything goes on, it’s difficult. When you have it for two — you can really go back historically and then try to find players that have been out for two years and it’s tough. It’s a long time in this sport. So when he has a moment like that or when he has a practice where you see him getting back to form, it’s encouraging.”
More than a feel-good story, @Tpstreets. 🫶 pic.twitter.com/rKjia98YXx
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 19, 2024
Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw to Patrick four times and the 30-year-old receiver hauled in each of those targets.
“[I’m] happy for him,” Nix said after the game. “Obviously, he’s been through a lot. It’s not easy to overcome the things that he has, and then to get out there and be able to contribute like he did tonight was just really cool to see. He’s a gamer. He does a really good job when his number is called. It was good to see him in the end zone.”
By all accounts, Patrick is beloved by his teammates, and they were thrilled to see him making plays again on Sunday night.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Tim as a person and as a player,” quarterback Jarrett Stidham said. “He’s a veteran, he works his tail off, the last two years have obviously been tough for him, but to see him come back and be able to do the things he’s done, and he had a great game tonight, was open pretty much the entire time he was out there, and I couldn’t be more excited for him for sure.”
Even former teammates chimed in on social media:
So happy for you bro!! @Tpstreets 🫡🙏🏽 https://t.co/g0semFCJV2
— Justin Simmons (@jsimms1119) August 19, 2024
Von Miller’s Instagram story 🧡🏈💙 pic.twitter.com/gWst5xpxG6
— Broncos Wire (@TheBroncosWire) August 19, 2024
Courtland Sutton, who has been teammates with Patrick his entire seven-year career, said you could feel the excitement after Sunday’s touchdown.
“Man, I was so happy for him,” Sutton said. “I could have celebrated with him the rest of the game if I could. I was just so happy to see him be able to get in the end zone. He’s been working his butt off, you guys probably know it just as well.
“The journey he’s been on the last couple of years and to see him get in the end zone, see the excitement — you could almost feel the juice of him. He’s over here trying to be all cool, but you could feel the juice and how excited he was to get back into the end zone and be out there and play this game that he’s worked so hard to enjoy.”
I’m really happy for Tim Patrick. pic.twitter.com/ltCwFVPIEf
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) August 19, 2024
Before back-to-back injuries, Patrick totaled 164 receptions for 1,476 yards and 11 touchdowns from 2020-2021. Now healthy again, he’ll aim to win the No. 2 receiver job across from Sutton. Sunday was a step in the right direction, but Patrick is not content with a feel-good preseason performance.
“Obviously, I’m happy,” Patrick said after the game. “[But] I have a higher standard of myself. Just trying to be a better story. So, it’s a step in the right direction. But once I get these camp legs to go away, I’ll be better.
“Like I said, I just have a higher standard for myself. And obviously, I want to go out during the preseason and making plays, but what’s most important is making plays when the season starts and getting wins. Not just making plays and losing but getting wins.”
The Broncos defeated the Packers 27-2 on Sunday night, but preseason scores obviously don’t matter for standings. The real action begins in September and it looks like Patrick will be ready to help Denver make some noise when it counts.
