Who will have to step up for the Denver Broncos following the knee injury to wide receiver Tim Patrick?
Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick went down with a knee injury in Tuesday’s training camp practice. It appeared to look quite serious and a reason to be concerned about the position in 2022.
The Broncos are slowly bringing K.J. Hamler along from his torn ACL from last season, and this news about Patrick makes the position quite thinner.
It means that there will have to be some players that will have bigger responsibilities. It opens up an opportunity for a bigger role for some of these other players.
Denver Broncos In-House receivers that could replace Tim Patrick: Seth Williams
Could this be the break Seth Williams needed to have a legitimate impact on the Denver Broncos?
You hate to put it that way, but the truth of the matter is that Williams has not had that big of a role on the offensive side of the ball. He has had some impact on special teams, but that’s pretty much it except for one reception that went for 34 yards.
Williams, 6-foot-2, 211 lbs, ran the 40-yard dash at 4.49 seconds at Auburn’s Pro Day in 2011. His hands measured in at 9.88 inches. In comparison, Courtland Sutton’s hands measured in at 9 3/4”.
Denver Broncos In-House receivers that could replace Tim Patrick: Kendall Hinton
We joke about Denver Broncos receiver Kendall Hinton being a “Hall of Fame quarterback” and that is quite funny. The thing is, Hinton could actually be a hero for the team in the wake of Tim Patrick’s injury.
Hinton isn’t a flashy player but he can get the job done. He caught 15 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown for the Broncos in 2021.
Despite being on the shorter side for a wide receiver, Hinton was a pretty nice piece for the Broncos’ offense.
Before training camp, there were questions about whether or not Hinton would make the team. Some did view him as a potentially difficult player to cut.
He isn’t one of the top receivers on the squad (Courtland Sutton, Patrick, Jeudy, Hamler), but has been strongly in the mix to land the fifth or sixth spot at the wide receiver position.
If Patrick is out an extended period of time, I can see the Broncos trying to sprinkle in quite a few plays for Hinton during training camp, giving him a strong possibility of making the team.
Denver Broncos In-House receivers that could replace Tim Patrick: Montrell Washington
Roles can quickly change in the NFL especially if injuries happen. Montrell Washington was drafted in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was expected to come in and replace Diontae Spencer as the primary returner.
Though he could still land that job on the team, and there’s no guarantee he’ll make the team, the fact that the Broncos need help at wide receiver could be really good news for the rookie from Samford.
In five seasons and 45 games with the Samford Bulldogs, Washington reeled in 145 receptions for 1,858 yards and 17 touchdowns. His breakout year came in his final season at Samford, when he caught 60 passes for 813 yards and nine touchdowns.
He has made a name for himself during the limited reps he has been given during Denver Broncos training camp. Washington could be much more valuable for the Broncos than anybody ever speculated.
It’s going to be fun seeing what he can do for the team on both offense and special teams, and with potentially an increased role, his value has skyrocketed with Patrick’s injury.
Denver Broncos In-House receivers that could replace Tim Patrick: Travis Fulgham
I’ve viewed Travis Fulgham as a non-factor for the Denver Broncos; likely not even making the team in 2022. That possibility changes with the injury to Tim Patrick.
Fulgham enters his fourth year in the league, his second with the Broncos, after beginning his career with the Detroit Lions and then the Philadelphia Eagles.
Fulgham did not have an impact in his rookie season with Detroit. However, he was able to put up 38 receptions for 539 yards and four touchdowns with the Eagles in 2020.
He went off during a regular season game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020, catching 10 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown. In that game, he showed that he is capable of being a solid contributor if his number is called.
Denver Broncos 5 options at wide receiver with Tim Patrick out for 2022
Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick is out for the 2022 season. If the team chooses to look outside the roster for an upgrade, who are possibilities?
He is currently on a one-year deal with the Broncos worth $895,000.