BREAKING: Broncos Part Ways With $34 Million WR
The Denver Broncos have been patient with wide receiver as he worked to return from injuries that sidelined him for the entire 2022 and 2023 seasons. Despite signing him to a 3-year, $34.5 million contract extension in 2021, the team now seems ready to move on as they approach the 53-man roster deadline on August 27.
According to Mike Klis of Denver’s 9NEWS, the Broncos have decided to part ways with him due to the significant depth and talent they currently have at the wide receiver position. Klis reported on his X account that the team is exploring trade options for him, who is reportedly attracting considerable interest from other teams ahead of the roster cutdown deadline.
ESPN’s Jeff Legwold added that if no suitable trade offers are received, the Broncos plan to release Patrick.
Patrick is currently listed as a starting slot wide receiver on the Broncos’ depth chart, with second-year player and 2023 NFL All-Pro return specialist Marvin Mims as his backup.
The Broncos are set to open their season on September 8 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Injuries Have Dogged Patrick Since College
Injuries have been a recurring challenge throughout Tim Patrick’s career. After excelling in both football and basketball at the junior-college level for two years, Patrick earned a football scholarship to Utah. However, his time at Utah was marred by injuries, causing him to miss 17 games over two seasons.
Despite the setbacks, Patrick had a standout senior year in 2016, leading the Utes with 45 receptions for 711 receiving yards and five touchdowns in just 10 games. However, his injury history and limited college experience contributed to him going undrafted in 2017. That year, he spent time on the practice squads of the Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Denver Broncos.
It’s shouldn’t be a surprise because of how he plays football, but #Broncos WR Tim Patrick was a damn good basketball player at Grossmont College.
His coach, Doug Weber, told me he could have played professionally overseas if he wanted to: https://t.co/3pndXU0JGn pic.twitter.com/Bz9gVI5OW2
— Summer of George (@GeorgeStoia) October 1, 2021
Patrick’s perseverance paid off in 2018 when he made the Broncos’ 53-man roster and played in all 16 games, recording 23 receptions for 315 yards and one touchdown. Unfortunately, his 2019 season was cut short after just eight games due to a broken hand. Despite this, he rebounded impressively in 2020 and 2021, posting consecutive seasons with at least 700 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
However, Patrick’s momentum was halted by season-ending injuries in training camp for the next two years. He tore his ACL in August 2022 and then suffered a torn Achilles tendon in July 2023, forcing him to miss the entire 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Broncos Have Mix of Veterans and Newcomers at WR
The Broncos are entering the 2024 season with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in the NFL Draft, at the helm. The team seems confident in surrounding him with a blend of veteran experience and fresh talent.
Leading the veteran presence is Courtland Sutton, who remains the last Denver player to surpass 1,000 receiving yards in a single season, which he achieved in 2019. With Marvin Mims expected to step into the slot receiver role, Sutton will be joined in the starting lineup by Josh Reynolds, a free-agent acquisition. Reynolds signed a 2-year, $9 million contract with the Broncos after a solid 2023 season with the Detroit Lions, where he recorded 40 receptions for 608 yards and five touchdowns.
To bolster the receiving corps, the Broncos have also brought in a pair of rookies. Third-round pick Troy Franklin, who played alongside Nix at Oregon, adds familiarity and potential, while Devaughn Vele, a seventh-round pick out of Utah, provides additional depth to the group.