One of the more intriguing moves late in the NFL preseason ahead of the start of the regular season was veteran wide receiver Tim Patrick heading to the Detroit Lions after getting released by the Denver Broncos.
However, before he was released and according to Patrick himself (via Lions insider Dave Birkett), the Broncos told him they were actually trying to trade him.
“(Patrick) said the Broncos told him they were trying to work out a trade with the Saints when they decided to release him after the preseason,” Birkett recently wrote on social media.
With both teams in separate conferences and with the loss of veteran wide receiver Michael Thomas, this trade could have made sense.
But for Patrick, the 30-year-old now is on the Lions’ practice squad and could likely be elevated to the 53-man roster at some point soon.
The former undrafted receiver played in four seasons and spent parts of seven years with Denver (2017-2023).
He missed the last two seasons due to injury.
His best season came in 2020 when he recorded 51 receptions for career-high 742 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
More of a role player, if Patrick is elevated to the 53-man roster in Detroit, he could round out a really solid wide receiver core in Detroit that has All-Pro Amon-Ra St. Brown, young Jameson Williams, and veteran Kalif Raymond.
Time will tell to see if and when Patrick gets the bump onto the gameday roster.
