Tim Patrick's last two years might have sent less-persistent individuals to retirement.
Not Patrick. The former undrafted free agent -- who earned a multi-year deal with the Broncos in 2021, then spent the last two seasons on injured reserve -- completed a long road back to an NFL field Sunday when he played in Denver's preseason opener against Indianapolis.
He caught one pass for 14 yards, but it may as well have been worth 1,400 yards.
"It felt good; it honestly hasn't felt that long," Patrick said, via the team's official site. "… I feel like I go against the best every day, so out there, it just felt like it was another day in the office."
The moment wasn't lost on his teammates, who were eager to recognize their veteran teammate following the reception, and had no issue with the taunting penalty drawn by Patrick's brief celebration of his catch.
“All of us in the huddle were like, ‘It’s his first catch in two years, man,’” Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton said, via the Denver Post. “Do what you want to do. You want to do a backflip after you caught that joint, you could have. It was just so exciting to see him back out there in his element. He’s been working his butt off, he’s been practicing really well and to see him get that first catch in a game, it was really dope to see.
“I’m excited for him. I think he’s going to have a really good year this year.”
When Patrick signed his three-year, $34 million extension in 2021, he was three days shy of his 28th birthday and in the midst of a 53-catch, 734-yard, five-touchdown season in 2021. He'd proven himself as a capable third receiver who earned his place on the roster via perseverance, culling favor within the Broncos organization as a dependable team player.
Then, injuries struck. Shortly after the calendar turned to August in 2022, Patrick suffered a torn ACL during Broncos camp. A year later, a torn Achilles ended his 2023 season, sending him back to the unfortunately familiar operating room and a long recovery.
All of that is behind him now, though. He's wearing a new number, changing from 81 to 12, and with one year left on his deal, the time is now for Patrick to capitalize.
He took a positive first step in Denver's win over Indianapolis.