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Jeff Legwold, ESPN Senior Writer
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Throughout the Denver Broncos‘ complex, wide receiver Tim Patrick‘s two-year battle to return from injuries has been an inspiring tale about a popular player.
But the “tough decisions,” as coach Sean Payton has put it, in a deep wide receiver room are poised to include Patrick.
League and team sources confirmed amid multiple reports Monday that the Broncos were on the hunt for potential trade partners for Patrick, but that if no trade could be finalized, Patrick was expected to be released before Tuesday’s deadline for rosters league-wide to be cut to 53 players.
Team sources also said Monday Patrick had been informed of the team’s plans. It is a difficult decision for the Broncos given Patrick’s toughness as well as popularity in the locker room.
As Payton said during training camp, “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.”
Also, in a similar situation Monday was running back Samaje Perine. Perine is also expected to get caught in the squeeze of a cramped depth chart at his position.
Patrick missed the 2022 season with a torn ACL he had suffered in training camp that summer and then missed the 2023 season with a torn Achilles tendon, again suffered early in training camp. Patrick had — after the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers waived him in 2017 — scrapped his way from the Broncos’ practice squad to a prominent role in the offense over the four seasons that followed.
He returned from two years’ worth of injury rehab to participate fully in training camp and had five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown in the preseason.
“The first five hours were rough, probably the most down I’ve ever been,” Patrick said earlier in training camp about his injury a year ago. “Once I talked to the doctors and talked to some people close to me, it was just another challenge. You guys know the story, nothing has ever been easy and it’s always the hard way with me for some reason. It’s something that I embrace. It was just another situation to make my story that much greater.”
But the Broncos used two picks in this past April’s draft on wide receivers — Troy Franklin in the fourth round and Devaughn Vele in the seventh round. Both Franklin and Vele appear poised to make the 53-player roster and when the Broncos selected Vele in the draft, general manager George Paton immediately compared him to Patrick. The Broncos also signed Josh Reynolds in free agency with Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. on track for prominent roles in the offense.
Perine, who was often the back of choice on third down last season because of his ability in pass protection and as a receiver, has practiced as the fourth running back in the rotation for much of the preseason. The Broncos appear to be on track to keep three running backs — Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin and rookie Audric Estime to go with fullback Michael Burton.
Perine, who had five carries as well as one reception in the preseason, was not in uniform Sunday for the Broncos’ preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals.