Before their 2022 season even began, the Denver Broncos lost starting wide receiver Tim Patrick to a torn ACL during training camp.
It was a devasting loss for Denver’s offense. Patrick had totaled 104 receptions for 1,476 yards and 11 touchdowns from 2020-2021 and he had a chance to emerge as the team’s top receiver in 2022.
“That was a huge loss,” general manager George Paton said at the NFL combine last week. “You could argue one of the biggest losses of the season. When he got hurt that day, the whole building was deflated.”
The only silver lining to Patrick’s injury last year was the timing. Happening before the 2022 season started increases the receiver’s chances of recovering in time for the 2023 season. The veteran receiver tweeted last fall that he was already ahead of schedule in his recovery.
“You guys know Tim, what he brings every day, a leader, really good player,” Paton said. “He’s running now. He’s jogging. I don’t know when he’ll be back, in terms of the offseason programs, but next season, certainly, he’ll be 100 percent.”
The Broncos are expected to begin training camp in late July with preseason games beginning in August followed by the regular season in September. There’s no exact timeline for when Patrick is expected to return, but there’s optimism that he could be ready for Week 1. The receiver’s return will provide a big boost to Denver’s offense in 2023.
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