Tim Patrick: From College Standout to NFL Veteran
Tim Patrick's journey to the National Football League is a testament to perseverance, hard work, and a relentless belief in his own abilities. From his college days at Utah to his current status as a respected NFL receiver, Patrick has overcome numerous obstacles to achieve his dreams. This article explores Patrick's college career, his transition to the NFL, and his impact both on and off the field.
Early Life and High School Career
Before his college career, Tim Patrick attended University City High School in San Diego, California, where he excelled in multiple sports. As a senior, he showcased his versatility by rushing 90 times for 963 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also catching six passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. He earned first-team all-league and team MVP honors in football and second-team all-league and team MVP honors in basketball. He also played multiple positions at Morse High School in San Diego, California. Despite his impressive high school performance, Patrick received limited Division I scholarship offers.
College Career: Grossmont College and the University of Utah
Junior College
Patrick's path to a major college program was not straightforward. After high school, he attended Grossmont College before transferring to the University of Utah. He lost 10 offers out of junior college. He was going to go to Georgia, but they pulled my offer once they saw my transcript.
University of Utah (2014-2016)
Utah was the only big school that stuck around. They ran out of offers coming in, so he had to come in as a walk on. Patrick had finally arrived at a big school where he could showcase his talent on a big stage.
Patrick's career at Utah was marked by both promise and adversity. As a junior in 2014, he recorded 16 catches for 177 yards. He appeared in 21 games for the Utes, registering 61 receptions for 888 yards and five touchdowns. Patrick was a teammate of Delshawn McClellon and Kenneth Scott at Utah.
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In his first season, he came on quickly, appearing in nine games and making four starts. During the 2014 season, Patrick suffered a season-ending leg injury against Oregon, which sidelined him for the latter half of the year and the entire 2015 season. This setback, however, proved to be a turning point in his career.
"It was my first injury, so it was an eye-opener," Patrick said. "My thought process when I first got [to Utah] was to play one year and enter the draft, no matter what. I was sick of school and that injury kind of slowed me down. It pretty much opened my eyes to more things - it allowed me to be able to graduate college, and I feel like I came away a better football player after it, mentally."
Patrick spent the next year-and-a-half working on his strength, gaining 20 pounds since 2014, waiting for his moment to arrive again. Receivers coach Guy Holliday called senior Tim Patrick "the complete package" at wideout.
Patrick returned from his injury to complete his final season at Utah, racking up 711 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games. He did not receive an invitation to participate in the NFL Combine, but put up an impressive performance at Utah's Pro Day, including a 4.47 40-yard dash.
Despite going undrafted in 2017, Patrick's college career demonstrated his potential as a reliable and productive receiver. His senior status in the program made him more aware. By the time his career is up, he wants to leave an impression. He knows that fans and critics alike have skepticism about Utah's passing game. But if things go the way he believes they'll go, it won't matter.
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NFL Career: Overcoming Obstacles and Finding Success
Early Years and Practice Squad Stints (2017)
Patrick entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2017. However, he was waived by the Ravens less than three months later. "The first time I got waived, [Baltimore] waived me and I snuck out the back door so I didn't have to talk to anybody," Patrick said. "I thought nobody would find out, but I didn't know in the league when you get cut, they literally post it on their social media. So everybody was blowing up my phone, and I had to hurry up and call my mom and dad to let them know."
He then spent parts of his rookie season with the Ravens, San Francisco 49ers, and Denver Broncos but did not appear in a game. In San Francisco, Patrick had another opportunity to show his potential. "This is what opened my eyes - John Lynch brought me in, and he didn't have to," Patrick said. "He brought me in and told me, 'No matter what happened here, you're not like these other players [who are being released]. You can play in this league; the numbers [for WR] were just difficult. But don't give up, man.'"
Denver Broncos (2018-2023)
Patrick's perseverance paid off when he signed with the Denver Broncos' practice squad on October 20, 2017. He got his first career start and scored his first career touchdown in 2018. "It still feels like that every time I score," Patrick said. "When I'm playing a game, everything feels normal, I feel like I belong. But when you score a touchdown, it just makes you feel like a little kid again."
Over the next few seasons, Patrick developed into a key contributor to the Broncos' offense. From 2018 to 2021, he recorded 143 catches for 2,009 yards and 12 touchdowns. Since Patrick came off injured reserve in Week 10 of the 2018 season he has 79 catches and eight touchdowns over 22 games -- the most receptions and touchdowns among the Broncos wide receivers during that span.
In 2020, he had a breakout season, exploding for 742 yards and six touchdowns on 51 receptions in 15 starts. Following a breakout 2020 campaign where he exploded for 742 yards and six touchdowns on 51 receptions in 15 starts, Patrick continues to shine as part of the Broncos offense. Despite injuries to other receivers, Patrick capitalized on his opportunities. "In this business, we always say you're one play away from being a starter, and Tim took advantage of that," Smith says. "He earned his right to be one of the top guys in the league at his position. You can't control the opportunities that you get, but you control what you do when you get it."
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Patrick's success in the NFL is a testament to his work ethic and determination. "Tim has consistently just put the work in, to see something that needs attention in his game and give it attention," Broncos wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni said. "Details, always with the details, and when he goes to get the ball he wants the ball to be his."
Injuries and Setbacks (2022-2023)
Unfortunately, Patrick's career has been hampered by injuries in recent years. In 2022, he suffered a knee injury during training camp that ended his season before it began. The Broncos wideout was injured during training camp in August 2022 and missed the entire season. In 2023, he suffered a similar fate, missing the entire season due to injury.
Detroit Lions (2024)
In 2024, Tim Patrick was a member of the Detroit Lions.
Jacksonville Jaguars (2024-Present)
On June 12, 2024, the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions to trade a sixth-round selection in the 2026 draft in exchange for WR Tim Patrick, pending a physical, the team announced today.
Career Totals
His career totals include 176 receptions for 2,403 yards and 15 touchdowns in 71 games (46 starts) for the Broncos (2018-23) and Detroit Lions (2024).
Personal Life and Off-Field Impact
Tim Patrick's journey has been shaped by his upbringing and personal experiences. His father spent 15 years in jail, and his mother was also incarcerated at times. Patrick has credited his grandmother, Ruth Patrick, with shaping him into the person he is today.
Patrick has used his platform to give back to the community, particularly to children in need. He helps provide guidance for children at the Marvin W. "Working with the kids in the detention center, that's what I see myself doing in life after football," Patrick says. While Patrick hopes he can help to lead the kids towards the right path, he also wants to bring positivity to their day-to-day lives. "They have a score system [for behavior], so I do things like if everybody gets over a 2.0 on their score, I'll send you guys some lunch," Patrick says. "If you get over a 2.5 - 2.6 is the highest you can get - I'll get you a pair of shoes. I've given out five pairs of shoes, sent them food damn near once every two weeks."
Patrick's talent and unique road to the NFL have not gone unnoticed. His play and mindset have caught the attention of another Bronco who carved out a role for himself in the NFL after going undrafted - Ring of Fame wide receiver Rod Smith. Smith has become a mentor to Patrick, who frequently reaches out to Smith for advice. "He's hungry," Smith says. "You can tell when a guy has this inner drive to prove something - not to other people, but to himself. Being an undrafted guy myself, I gravitate towards him because I know those internal workings are tough and sometimes we don't feel worthy and we gotta go prove it."
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