Tim Patrick is coming off his best game in a Detroit Lions uniform in the team's win over Seattle Week 4 that saw him catch two passes for 52 yards. One was a 23-yarder that set up the Amon-Ra St. Brown to Jared Goff touchdown pass in the third quarter. The other, a 29-yard reception to open a drive in the fourth quarter, ended in Goff's final touchdown pass of the night to St. Brown.
Patrick, 30, has been in Detroit for a little over a month now after signing right before the start of the regular season. He told detroitlions.com he's beginning to settle into his role as Detroit's No. 3 receiver but still feels like his best ball here is ahead of him.
"Just getting more confidence. With the more and more installs, you get kind of familiar," Patrick said. "Not where I want to be still just because every install there's always something new. So, I still feel like I'm still kind of thinking out there and still being a robot in a way. But it's effective right now, so I'm not complaining."
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (15) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Brandon Joseph (12) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46), Detroit Lions linebacker Trevor Nowaske (53) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor (29) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Mitchell Agude (50) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on October 8, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Patrick has really rounded out Detroit's receiver room with his size, versatility and experience. St. Brown and Jameson Williams have been the No. 1 and No. 2 receivers in terms of snaps played, targets and receptions, but Patrick has been taking the third most reps at the position for three weeks now and that's expected to increase the more comfortable he gets and the more he continues to show coaches he can make plays.
People may have forgotten Patrick caught 79 and 85 passes for over 700 yards and 11 combined touchdowns in 2020 and 2021 in Denver before dealing with season-ending injuries in 2022 and 2023. He's been a really productive player in this league.
"I feel like he's gotten better and better every week," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said of Patrick. "He brings a skillset that we need in that room that's different and there's a place for him here. I know he's gaining the trust of us offensively but also Goff ... the trust is getting there quickly."
Between St. Brown's route running and hands, Williams' speed and ability to take the top off the defense, and Patrick's size and catch radius, Detroit now has a receiver room with a lot of complementary skillsets that gives offensive coordinator Ben Johnson a lot of flexibility, especially when you figure tight end Sam LaPorta and running back Jahmyr Gibbs into the mix in the passing game too.
View photos of the starters for the Dallas Cowboys.
Head Coach: Mike McCarthy
Offensive Coordinator: Brian Schottenheimer
Defensive Coordinator: Mike Zimmer
Special Teams Coordinator: John Fassel
(AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
WR CeeDee Lamb
Backed up by Jalen Brooks
(AP Photo/Matt Freed)
LT Tyler Guyton
Backed up by Asim Richards
(AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
LG Tyler Smith
Backed up by TJ Bass
(AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
C Cooper Beebe
Backed up by Brock Hoffman
(AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
RT Terence Steele
Backed up by Matt Waletzko
(AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
RG Zack Martin
Backed up by TJ Bass
(AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
TE Jake Ferguson
Backed up by Luke Schoonmaker, Brevyn Spann-Ford and John Stephens Jr.
(AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
WR KaVontae Turpin
(AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
WR Jalen Tolbert
Backed up by Ryan Flournoy
(AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
QB Dak Prescott
Backed up by Cooper Rush and Trey Lance
(AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
RB Ezekiel Elliott
Backed up by Rico Dowdle, Hunter Luepke and Deuce Vaughn
(AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
DE Chauncey Golston
Backed up by Tyrus Wheat and KJ Henry
(AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
NT Mazi Smith
Backed up by Linval Joseph
(AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
DT Osa Odighizuwa
Backed up by Carlos Watkins
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
DE Micah Parsons
Backed up by Marshawn Kneeland
(AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
LB Marist Liufau
Backed up by Damone Clark
(AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
LB Eric Kendricks
Backed up by Nick Vigil
(AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
LB DeMarvion Overshown
Backed up by Buddy Johnson
(AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
CB Trevon Diggs
Backed up by CJ Goodwin
(AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
NCB Jourdan Lewis
Backed up by Israel Mukuamu
(AP Photo/David Richard)
CB Caelen Carson
Backed up by Andrew Booth
(AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
S Donovan Wilson
Backed up by Makrquese Bell
(AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
S Malik Hooker
Backed up by Juanyeh Thomas
(AP Photo/David Richard)
K Brandon Aubrey
(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
P/H Bryan Anger
(AP Photo/Matt Patterson)
LS Trent Sieg
(AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)
KR/PR KaVontae Turpin
Backed up by Juanyeh Thomas (KR), Rico Dowdle (KR) and Deuce Vaughn (PR)
(AP Photo/Matt Durisko)
"It's exactly what I thought when I chose to come here," Patrick said. "If I play my cards right and I'm being myself this is going to be a great situation. As we showed in our last game, we are a very high-powered offense and it's just about being consistent week in and week out.
"A lot of meat left on the bone. We have so many weapons, I'm just falling in line. When my opportunity comes, I have to make sure I'm ready."
Patrick's done that thus far and has been a good addition to Detroit's receiver room.
