During his time with the team, Josh Reynolds earned praise from across the Detroit Lions' organization. He was an ideal No. 3 wide receiver, willing to do the dirty work as blocker and able to come through when called upon in critical situations as a trusted target for Jared Goff.
After his departure to the Denver Broncos in 2024 free agency, the Lions figured someone would emerge from a list of internal options to replace Reynolds. They ended up being wrong, and they ended up adding two veterans after roster cuts in an attempt to find a solution.
In time, one of those veterans became the replacement for Reynolds the Lions sought for months.
Tim Patrick finished last season with pedestrian numbers (33 receptions for 393 yards and three touchdowns). But 20 of his receptions moved the chains, and his Pro Football Focus blocking grades were above average.
Patrick, after missing all the previous two seasons due to major injuries, was also a fantastic story last season.
Early in training camp, Patrick lamented his slow start.
"This is my first time going through a camp like this,” Patrick said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “So yeah, I'm starting off a little slow, but I promise you by the time the season comes, I'm going to be firing on all cylinders."
”That's why I'm just frustrated that it's not showing right now, 'cause in OTAs it did,” Patrick continued. “Training camp is a little different. I just got to pick this (expletive) up.”
Meanwhile, Lions rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa has been pushing Patrick to the background as he earns significant reps. Fellow rookie wideout Dominic Lovett also got significant run in the first preseason game, as an extension of the good work he's been doing in training camp.
Tim Patrick could become a tradeable asset for the Lions
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has named one player each NFL team should put on the trade block this preseason. At first thought there's not an obvious candidate for the Lions, so Patrick makes sense in light of what's happening in the battle for roster spots at wide receiver.
"Tim Patrick's 2024 comeback with the Detroit Lions was wonderful to witness. After missing the 2022 and 2023 seasons with a torn ACL and torn Achilles, he returned to fill in as Detroit's No. 3 receiver. He finished the 2024 season with 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns."
"The 31-year-old signed a one-year contract to return to Detroit this offseason, but he could be pushed out of significant playing time. Rookie receivers Isaac TeSlaa and Dominic Lovett both made noise in the Hall of Fame Game and had generated some attention before that in training camp."
"If it looks like the Utah product won't contribute consistently this season, the Lions should see what they can get for him in return. A potential contender on a tight budget could be particularly interested in Patrick and his $1.3 million base salary."
The return for Patrick in a preseason trade would not be robust; something like a Day 3 draft pick conditional on him making that new team's 53-man roster. But in the search for viable trade candidates on the Lions' roster, a capable veteran who is being pushed out of a notable role stands above anyone else right now.
