Broncos’ Tim Patrick suffers yet another severe injury in training. How will the team cover?
Should initial reports prove to be true, it could well be that the Broncos just suffered a major blow to their roster during Monday’s training camp session.
The signs don’t look good and while there is further testing to be done, it’s clear that the franchise is already fearing the worst where one of their wide receivers is concerned. The focus will now turn to how the team will cover a loss in the wide receiver department.
Broncos’ Tim Patrick suffers a severe injury to the left leg
According to multiple reports, Broncos wideout Tim Patrick has suffered a terrible left leg injury. It’s understood that the 29-year-old went down during a seven-on-seven drill with a non-contact injury to his left leg. Patrick was seen throwing his helmet before screaming out in pain at which point he was carted off the field. He could later be seen using crutches to enter the Broncos’ facility. Following practice, Broncos coach Sean Payton indicated the injury was to Patrick’s Achilles. “We’re evaluating his left Achilles,” Payton said. “That’s what we think the injury is. We haven’t confirmed it until he gets the MRI.” Incidentally, ESPN has since reported that the team believes Patrick tore his Achilles.
A terrible trend for Tim Patrick
It’s hard not to feel a great deal of sympathy for Patrick who - believe it or not - missed the entire 2022 season after suffering a torn ACL during - you guessed it - training camp. Even worse, is the fact that results of the MRI that revealed his torn ACL were released almost exactly a year ago: on August 2nd, 2022. To be clear, Patrick suffered an ACL tear in his right knee. This most recent injury as noted above, occurred in his left.
As for how he’s played when healthy, quite well in fact. As Denver’s No. 3 receiver, Patrick combined for 104 catches for 1,476 yards and 11 touchdowns in 31 games between 2020 and 2021. This coming season will be the second of his three-year, $30 million contract extension which he signed in late 2021. Sadly, the former Utah star has yet to see a single minute on the field on that deal. Regarding how the Broncos will look to cover, the reality is the team actually has quite a lot of depth in that position. There’s Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton who are the team’s top two wide receivers. Then, there’s also second-round pick Marvin Mims, the ever-quick K.J. Hamler, and former New Orleans Saints wideout Marquez Callaway. That being said, Patrick’s absence will be felt and even more so when considering the work he put in to return from the knee injury that derailed his entire 2022 campaign.