Report: Broncos WR Tim Patrick 'Believed to Have' Torn Achilles
The news is in on Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick — and it's not good.
Patrick, who went down with a non-contact injury during Monday's training camp practice, is "believed" to have suffered a torn right Achilles' tendon, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. If confirmed, he'd miss the entire 2023 season.
Patrick was working a seven-on-seven drill when he crumpled to the ground, throwing his helmet and gloves in frustration. He required a cart off the field and crutches to enter the locker room as Denver's medical staff examined his lower leg area.
Head coach Sean Payton revealed after practice that Patrick was dealing with an Achilles issue, the extent of which was initially unclear.
"I was watching it directly,'' Payton said of the drill, via 9NEWS' Mike Klis. "Because he was running a route and it was something that we corrected earlier. It was kind of on-air (no coverage), planted. It looked like he slipped. But we're evaluating his left Achilles. That's what we think the injury is."
The injury comes nearly one year to the day (Aug. 2) after Patrick sustained a torn left ACL that sidelined him for the 2022 campaign. He returned on schedule and had been enjoying a solid start to camp.
The seventh-year pro — who's caught 143 passes for 2,009 yards and 14 touchdowns across 55 career games in Denver — was primed for a starting WR role aside Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton.
"It’s always difficult," Payton said, per Aric DiLalla of the official team site. "You guys see it. Especially a guy like that who’s a leader, who’s coming off pretty much an entire year of rehabilitation. So it’s difficult for his teammates [and] for all of us."
Coinciding with the loss of Patrick is the departure of fellow WR KJ Hamler, who was waived Monday due to a minor heart condition. This whittles down the depth of what most consider Denver's deepest position and could prompt the club to explore free-agent options.
Left behind entrenched starters Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton are Marvin Mims, Kendall Hinton, Montrell Washington, Marquez Callaway, Lil'Jordan Humphrey, Jalen Virgil, Brandon Johnson, Taylor Grimes, and Michael Bandy.
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