INDIANAPOLIS — Tim Patrick could do no wrong.
Well, almost.
The Broncos veteran wide receiver, who missed 2022 with a torn ACL and 2023 with a torn Achilles tendon, crossed a major threshold Sunday when he played in his first game in more than two years.
Patrick wasted little time getting into the scorebook, hauling in a 14-yard catch from Jarrett Stidham for a first down on the offense’s second snap.
Then he popped up, signaled first down in Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones’ grill and drew a flag for taunting.
Yeah, it stalled Denver’s opening drive and no, you don’t want that.
His longtime teammate Courtland Sutton, though, could not have cared less.
“All of us in the huddle were like, ‘It’s his first catch in two years, man,’” Sutton said. “Do what you want to do. You want to do a backflip after you caught that joint, you could have. It was just so exciting to see him back out there in his element. He’s been working his butt off, he’s been practicing really well and to see him get that first catch in a game, it was really dope to see.
“I’m excited for him. I think he’s going to have a really good year this year.”
Dirty laundry. Even if Patrick gets a free pass on the taunting call from his teammates, the Broncos most certainly will not get the same leniency from Payton overall in the penalty department.
They had six enforced overall — five on the offense — for 60 yards. That included four in the first two possessions under Stidham.
Sutton and right tackle Mike McGlinchey were each called for false starts and left tackle Garett Bolles incurred a holding penalty. Later in the game, so, too, did interior lineman Alex Forsyth.
“I didn’t like the penalties,” Payton said flatly, noting the five on offense in particular.
Krull injures toe. Broncos tight end Lucas Krull needed a cart ride to get to the locker room due to a toe injury on his right foot.
Payton after the game did not seem particularly concerned.
Asked if it was a serious injury, Payton quipped: “No. It’s a toe.”
Second-year cornerback Art Green also sustained a concussion on a second-half hit to Colts tight end Jelani Woods. Green, who spent 2023 on the practice squad, was penalized for unnecessary roughness on the play.
It’s personnel. A quick whip around of personnel notes: Luke Wattenberg started at center and Alex Forsyth went after him. All-Pro corner Pat Surtain II did not play, meaning Damarri Mathis and Riley Moss started at corner and got extensive work. Cody Barton got the first reps at inside linebacker next to Alex Singleton. Devon Key started at safety next to P.J. Locke.
With thinned ranks up front on the defensive line, D.J. Jones started and Angelo Blackson and Jordan Jackson rotated next to him early in the game.
Overall, nine players did not suit up for the Broncos, none of whom were major surprises. They are: Surtain, S Brandon Jones (hamstring), CB Levi Wallace (hamstring), ILB Justin Strnad (groin), OLB Nik Bonitto (back), OL Nick Gargiulo and DLs Eyioma Uwazurike, Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers.
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