Lions have unique path to get important intel on potential wide receiver addition

The Detroit Lions are shaping their 53-man roster heading into the 2024 season as Tuesday afternoon's deadline approaches. In a broad sense wide receiver depth is lacking, and it wouldn't be surprising if a move to add someone from outside the organization is being eyed.

So any time a recognizable name surfaces as someone another team is going to part ways with, antennas go up. According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, the Broncos are moving on from wide receiver Tim Patrick. If a trade can't be worked out, he'll be released.

Patrick (6-foot-4, 212 pounds) would fill the size void in the Lions' wide receiving corps, such as it's even considered a big concern. He's 30 years old, and he had over 50 catches with more than 700 yards and 11 combined touchdowns over the 2020 and 2021 seasons. The Broncos rewarded him with a three-year, $30 million contract extension in 2021.

But that's where we get to the big concern. Patrick missed the 2022 season with a torn ACL, then he missed the 2023 season with a torn Achilles. Healthy now, he had a good preseason with a touchdown from Bo Nix in the second preseason game.

Broncos head coach Sean Payton praised Patrick as "a veteran, I'd say with a lot of grit with what he's overcome....“He's one of those players that's very well respected and you feel his toughness.” 

Lions have unique path to intel on Tim Patrick

Patrick literally has not played in two straight seasons due to two major injuries. But he would come pretty cheap-a team that traded for him would only be taking on his $1.1 million base salary for this year. Waiting for him to be cut would probably make him even cheaper.

The Lions have a path to intel about Patrick's health that other teams might not. Head coach Dan Campbell has a close relationship with Payton going back to Payton's days as an assistant coach for the Cowboys and Giants when Campbell played for those teams. Campbell of course also spent five seasons on Payton's staff in New Orleans as tight ends coach before becoming the Lions' head coach.

So it would not be surprising if Campbell has made a call to Payton, to get some inside intel about Patrick's health and the intangibles he brings to the table. One way or the other, good or bad, that health intel may (should?) drive any interest the Lions have.

Update, 7:00 p.m. ET: According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions are expected to sign Patrick to their practice squad.