Tim Patrick's comeback efforts have encountered a fork in the road.
The Broncos are moving on from the veteran receiver, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Monday.
Patrick hasn't been officially released, so Denver could still trade him prior to Tuesday's cutdown deadline at 4 p.m. ET.
Patrick's NFL journey has occurred almost exclusively with Denver, where he joined the Broncos' practice squad in 2017 after brief stops in Baltimore and San Francisco. The undrafted free agent from Utah worked his way from obscurity to relevance, serving as a helpful depth option before emerging as a quality No. 3 receiver, posting consecutive 700-plus-yard seasons in 2020 and 2021.
Denver rewarded Patrick for his efforts with a three-year, $30 million extension in 2021, but injuries wiped out his next two seasons. Finally healthy, Patrick appeared to be building momentum toward a significant comeback season in 2024, admitting it "felt good" to record his first reception in over two years and promising fans he was only just getting started with a simple statement: "You guys haven't seen anything yet."
He'll have to deliver on that promise in a different uniform. Denver selected Oregon receiver Troy Franklin in the fourth round of April's draft, added Josh Reynolds in the offseason and have a number of other younger options (Marvin Mims Jr., Lil'Jordan Humphrey, preseason standout Brandon Johnsonand clear No. 1 receiver Courtland Sutton) they'd like to see on the field, essentially squeezing out Patrick by virtue of the numbers game that is cutdown week.
Patrick will have suitors. He's proven he's finally healthy and capable of contributing, and at least a couple of other teams (Detroit, Pittsburgh) could use a veteran receiver with Patrick's skill set. We'll see if Denver can swing a trade before Tuesday's cutdown deadline forces them to release Patrick.
