It didn’t take long for the Denver Broncos to establish rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant as a major part of their offensive game plan with 3 receptions for 32 yards on the opening drive of their AFC Divisional Round game against the Buffalo Bills.
It also didn’t take long for Bryant to see his day end with a concussion — on the third reception — that led to him being quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game.
“Broncos WR Pat Bryant (concussion) has been ruled out for remainder of game,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account.
It’s not the first time Bryant has missed time due to a concussion this season. He missed 2 games late in the season following a concussion against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 21.
“Scary situation involving Broncos WR Pat Bryant—who a brutal, but clean hit over the middle of the field,” Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer posted on X in reaction on December 21. “Both teams on a knee. Bryant’s facemask unscrewed from his helmet. Hope for the best …”
Bryant’s Injury Setback Came With WR2 Role in Sight
Bryant’s injury against the Jaguars came as he was beginning to take over the WR2 role in the offense from second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin.
On December 10, the Locked on Broncos podcast pointed out it was Bryant, a third round pick out of Illinois, who was getting more reps down the stretch.
From Locked on Broncos: “Pat Bryant has now seemingly, over the last three weeks become the second wide receiver … he is taking over an increased snap count over some other wide receivers that have been heavily in the rotation. We’re seeing the trust factor increase. It feels like the coaching staff trusts Bryant and that trust between he and Bo Nix is also growing and evolving week after week. But it’s not like he buys into his own hype. He just goes out there and works.”
Bryant finished the regular season with 31 receptions for 378 yards and 1 touchdown.
Bryant Could Be Massive Steal in 2025 Draft Class
Bryant, 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, has drawn comparisons to the best wide receiver Payton has drafted in 2 decades as an NFL head coach.
In 2016, Payton selected Ohio State’s Michael Thomas in the second round (No. 47 overall) — 3 years later Thomas was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year after setting the NFL single-season record with 149 receptions to go with 1,725 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns.
The fact Bryant was available in the third round boils down to about a tenth of a second — concerns he was a step slow with a 40-yard dash time of 4.61 seconds. That lack of speed actually had him projected to be taken much later in the draft.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein projected Bryant as a sixth round pick.
“Bryant has good size but lacks suddenness and pure vertical gas,” Zierlein wrote. ” … Bryant has average play strength but musters it all when competing for the catch … the ball skills are superior, but he needs to prove he can find ways to uncover against NFL press coverage to become more than a downfield target with backup value.”
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