The Denver Broncos have missed the veteran presence and playmaking ability from veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick over the course of the last two seasons. After coming back from consecutive season-ending injuries, Denver’s veteran WR stood out in a great way on Tuesday.
Tim Patrick shines on Day 1 of Broncos mandatory minicamp
Throughout OTAs, the Denver Broncos have taken the smart approach when it comes to veteran receiver Tim Patrick on his return from an Achilles injury that occurred last offseason during training camp.
After agreeing to a restructured deal to remain in Denver during the offseason, Patrick has been slowly climbing the ladder in terms of his on-field workload.
At OTAs, Patrick was limited to just individual drills and routes on air. During Tuesday’s first day of the team’s mandatory minicamp, he was the one player who stood out.
Not only did he participate in individual drills and routes on air, but Patrick also participated in team drills for the first time this offseason.
#BroncosCountry Day 1 Minicamp Report:
Courtland Sutton returned, but it was Tim Patrick who stood out the most on the #Broncos first day of mandatory minicamp.@MileHighSports pic.twitter.com/uR7tw4mh6z
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) June 11, 2024
He worked with the first-team, second-team, and third-team offensive units today, catching four total passes from Jarrett Stidham, Bo Nix, and Zach Wilson throughout various team periods.
His release off the line of scrimmage looks smooth, his ability to find the soft spots against zone coverage or leverage against man coverage was back on display. He looked a lot like his old self which is a great sign if he can remain healthy.
“Just those intangibles,” Sean Payton said on Tuesday regarding what Tim brings to the table. “I do know and obviously have seen healthy tape. Granted I wasn’t here, but I kind of have an idea or vision for the player. 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.”
While Courtland Sutton’s return to Tuesday’s practice was a big storyline coming into minicamp, Tim Patrick’s resurgence was quite arguably the most impactful storyline of the day in Dove Valley.