Tim Patrick, come on down! Veteran WR to be elevated off Lions' practice squad for Week 2

The Lions are elevating WR Tim Patrick off the practice squad for the team’s Week 2 matchup against Tampa. (Photo courtesy the Detroit Lions)

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions were already thin at wide receiver, but needed a little extra depth coming into Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after undrafted rookie Isaiah Williams was ruled out with a mid-week abdominal injury.

To address the roster deficiency, the Lions are temporarily elevating a pair of receivers off the team’s practice squad, Tom Kennedy and Tim Patrick. It will be a Detroit debut for the latter, who joined the team late last month after spending his first seven seasons with the Denver Broncos.

Patrick offers the Lions an injection of size, something they lack with their current corps. The 6-foot-4, 212-pounder plays with a physicality that matches his frame. Plus, he’s produced a pair of quality campaigns, racking up 104 receptions for 1,476 yards and 11 touchdowns from 2020-21. His career was subsequently derailed by injuries the past two years. He missed the 2022 season with a torn ACL and last year with a torn Achilles.

Patrick gets the call ahead of two other big-bodied, veteran options on the practice squad, Allen Robinson II and Donovan Peoples-Jones.

As for Kennedy, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson explained this week why he has an immense amount of trust in the veteran who has spent his entire five-year career with the Lions.

“He’s a little bit of a blankie for us because we know if something were to happen, he can play x, f, z,” Johnson said. “He can play every spot at the receiver spot. We feel really good about what he can bring to the table, and I think that gave him the nod last week.”

The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Kennedy has appeared in 21 games for the Lions, tallying 14 receptions for 195 yards. He also memorably threw a 75-yard touchdown pass in the 2021 season finale.