Denver Broncos: Tim Patrick expected to return vs Vikings

Wide receiver Tim Patrick returned to practice for the Denver Broncos. The team now has to decide to bring him back from IR.

The Denver Broncos are getting healthier.

The team had one of their receivers back at practice this week. Tim Patrick, who broke his hand in September, is expected to return to game action after the team’s bye week.

Denver has three weeks to decide whether or not to bring a player back from injured reserve once they return to practice. If that time elapses, Patrick will remain on IR. General Manager John Elway said that Patrick will be one of the two players allowed to return.

Patrick’s return would give the Broncos another tall, speedy receiver to go along with No. 1 receiver Courtland Sutton. It also would provide the team with more ways to make use of their pass catchers.

The Broncos have obviously struggled this season. With the trade of Emmanuel Sanders to the 49ers, the average age of the wide receiver group is 24.6 years. The oldest and most experienced guys in the group are Sutton, DaeSean Hamilton, and Patrick, all in their second year.

It will be very interesting to see what sort of impact Patrick will bring to the offense, and maybe even special teams. With Joe Flacco being out with a neck injury, and Brandon Allen taking over at quarterback, I am hopeful that Patrick’s return will help the team’s new starter.

If the Broncos go through with bringing Patrick back, they will have just one other slot left in terms of a player returning from injured reserve. All expectations are that they will bring rookie quarterback Drew Lock back from a thumb injury. Lock should see some game action during the last couple of weeks of the season, especially with Joe Flacco out.

The season has not gone as planned for the Broncos, but at least the coaching staff will get a chance to see what they have this year and plan for the future.