The Detroit Lions added a veteran wide receiver to their practice squad on August 27.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Lions signed Tim Patrick, whom the Denver Broncos released as part of their roster cuts ahead of the August 27 deadline.
“A new home: Former Broncos WR Tim Patrick is expected to sign with the Detroit Lions’ practice squad with the idea that he will work his way on to the active roster, per sources,” Schefter tweeted.
A new home: Former Broncos WR Tim Patrick is expected to sign with the Detroit Lions’ practice squad with the idea that he will work his way on to the active roster, per sources.
Patrick, who began his career in 2018, has posted 143 catches for 2,009 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in 53 NFL games.
Fans and pundits were excited about the addition.
“Call me crazy, but bet he makes an impact at some point this season,” wrote Bet MGM Tonight’s Brad Evans on X.
“Jamo, Amon Ra, LaPorta, Gibbs, Montgomery, Lif … Now Tim Patrick,” one fan tweeted. “Come on man.”
@chris9lives @AdamSchefter Jamo, Amon Ra, LaPorta, Gibbs, Montgomery, Lif ….. Now Tim Patrick. Come on man. At least two of these guys will be wide open every time Jared Goff steps into the pocket to pass
“A healthy Tim Patrick is better than Josh Reynolds,” another fan tweeted.
@NatSparbeck A healthy Tim Patrick is better than Josh Reynolds, more reliable as a catcher. Big win for the Lions.
Lions Sign WR Tim Patrick to Practice Squad
With Patrick, the Lions are adding a wideout to their practice squad who has more receiving yards in his career than every other pass catcher on Detroit’s roster except Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond.
Patrick began his career as an undrafted free agent in 2017. After spending the beginning of his rookie season with the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, Patrick joined the Broncos practice squad.
He made his NFL regular season debut in 2018. Two years later, Patrick became a starter for the Broncos with 51 catches, 742 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns in 2020.
Patrick reached 700-plus receiving yards again in 2021.
However, there’s a reason the Broncos released him on roster cutdown day. Patrick hasn’t played either of the last two seasons. In 2022, he torn an ACL in August. Then last year, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in July.
So while Patrick has upside, his injury history the past two years concerned some Lions fans.
“Tim Patrick hasn’t played a regular season game in almost 3 years,” one fan tweeted. “Coming off an ACL then Achilles who’s in his 30s. Why are we celebrating?”
Lions Cut WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, Daurice Fountain
As part of the team’s roster cuts prior to the August 27 deadline, the Lions parted ways with veteran receivers Donovan Peoples-Jones and Daurice Fountain.
With those exits, the Lions are without a big-bodied receiver on their initial 53-man roster. Standing at 6-foot-1, Jameson Williams is the tallest wideout on the Lions roster.
That’s another reason for Lions fans to be excited about what Patrick can bring to Detroit. Patrick stands at 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds.
Although he will have to earn his playing time, the Lions are apparently more comfortable with Patrick, a receiver who hasn’t played in three years, as the team’s big-bodied receiver, than either Peoples-Jones or Fountain.
“DPJ and Fountain are big guys, have length to them and for their size, they can run pretty good … you wish that would show up a lot more,” Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters prior to the team releasing them on August 26, via MLive.com’s Kory E. Woods.
The Lions acquired Peoples-Jones at the 2023 trade deadline from the Cleveland Browns. But he had just 5 catches for 48 yards in eight games last season.
Fountain has posted 2 receptions for 23 yards in his NFL career.
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Lions Turn Heads by Adding Veteran WR to Practice Squad: Report