Tim Patrick was just happy to get back on the field with the Detroit Lions last fall, after injuries robbed him of two seasons. Patrick played well enough in his return that the Lions didn’t want to lose him in 2025 NFL free agency this spring.
The Lions and Patrick agreed on a one-year contract Friday, the team announced. The contract is worth up to $4 million, a person familiar with the deal told the Free Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the details were not publicly disclosed.
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Patrick finished sixth on the Lions with 33 catches for 394 yards and three touchdowns last season after signing with the team following his training camp release from the Denver Broncos.
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) walks off the field after 45-31 loss to Washington Commanders at the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025.
Patrick, 31, missed the 2022 season in Denver with a torn ACL and the 2023 season with the Broncos with a torn Achilles.
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He finished sixth in Comeback Player of the Year voting last season.
The Lions return most starters on both sides of the ball coming off a 15-2 season that ended with a divisional round playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. They led the NFL in scoring and finished second in passing offense in 2024.
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Including Patrick, the Lions return the eight players that had the most receptions for them last season: Amon-Ra St. Brown (115), Sam LaPorta (60), Jameson Williams (58), Jahmyr Gibbs (52), David Montgomery (36), Patrick, Kalif Raymond (17) and Brock Wright (13).
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his book, “Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline,” at 7 p.m., March 24, at the Birmingham Public Library. Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tim Patrick signs contract with Detroit Lions in NFL free agency