Adjusting to life in the NFL can be difficult for rookies at first, and it is something that Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Dezmon Patmon can attest to during the first training camp of his career.
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As the team tries to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic while also preparing for a season without any preseason games, the training camp reps are more valuable now than they ever have been.
It has taken Patmon a minute to get acclimated, but the Washington State product appears to be making strides.
“I tell you what, one of the things that helps Dez (Dezmon Patmon) is he is in great physical shape. He is a great physical specimen,” said Frank Reich on Monday. “I know he is getting tired but he is able to work through it – made a couple nice catches out there today. I really feel like he has continued to dial in on technique. Early on, some things were new to him but to his credit he’s worked hard at it. It’s a long process, but I think he is continuing to take the right steps.”
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A sixth-round pick, Patmon is fighting for a roster spot. However, given the extended practice squad in 2020, that’s where he may be headed. What’s important is that he’s beginning to show improvements after getting acclimated to the speed of the NFL.
Rookie wide receivers typically take more time to develop. That gets magnified when talking about Day 3 picks. Patmon has a lot of upside given his athletic profile and work ethic, and that is beginning to show through at training camp.
Though he may be a long shot to make the roster, barring an explosion over the next two weeks, Patmon is likely headed for the practice squad. But the Colts have been impressed with the strides he’s made in recent days, which is encouraging for his outlook.