The Motor City is dying for some football action as the calendar is set to flip to July. A lack of a mandatory minicamp this summer means the Detroit Lions have been regrouping since their organized team activities (OTAs) ended on June 5, marking the last offseason phase until training camp begins in just over two weeks.
The upcoming training camp sessions are not only an opportunity for new faces to prove they belong in Detroit, but also for returning names to lock down their jobs. Getting off to a slow start in training camp can hurt a player's stock, which is why this Lions wideout can't afford to slack off before the action resumes.
Lions WR Tim Patrick Can't Afford to Slack Off Before Training Camp
Tim Patrick was in desperate need of a fresh start last summer, which is exactly what the Lions gave him. The former Utah wide receiver faced an uncertain future when he was waived by the Denver Broncos after suffering back-to-back ACL and Achilles tears, but those injuries weren't enough to dissuade Detroit from believing in a bounce-back performance.
The belief in Patrick paid off, as he went on to suit up in 16 regular-season games, as well as the Lions' lone playoff outing. He finished the campaign with 33 catches for 394 receiving yards and three touchdowns, as well as a 65.7 receiving grade on Pro Football Focus — 71st among 125 eligible WRs.
While far from Patrick's best performance, it was enough to convince the Lions to re-sign him to a one-year, $2.5 million contract once free agency began. Having said that, a new contract doesn't mean his spot in the lineup is safe.
The NFL offseason has brought several new WRs to town who could cut hurt Patrick's outlook. Third-round pick Isaac TeSlaa has created plenty of buzz this offseason, while fellow first-year wideout Dominic Lovett showed plenty of potential throughout his time in the SEC. That's without mentioning hungry bubble veterans like Ronnie Bell, Tom Kennedy, and Malik Taylor, who'll be waiting to pounce on any opening they can to step up.
With that in mind, Patrick's path to being Detroit's WR3 is no longer as clear as it once was. Throw in the fact that he's going to turn 32 years old in November and could see his skills further decline, and it's obvious he can't afford to slack in the lead-up to training camp.
The NFL is a 'what-have-you-done-for-me-lately' business, and Patrick must find a way to prove the Lions were right to re-sign him. Otherwise, he may lose his job to one of the many names waiting in the wings for him to slip.