Broncos’ Aaron Patrick “a freak” on special teams as former FCS star carves out role in Denver

After taking an unlikely road to the Broncos’ active roster, special teamer/outside linebacker Aaron Patrick is intent on making the most of his chance in Denver.

Patrick, undrafted out of Eastern Kentucky in 2020, spent about a month training and studying at the NFL Alumni Academy in Canton, Ohio, before the former FCS star got his first shot when the Jaguars signed him to their practice squad last December.

“I knew I had something I needed to show,” Patrick said. “With my time at Eastern Kentucky, between being a first-team All-American and the (Ohio Valley Conference) Defensive Player of the Year, I knew what I was capable of….I knew what I could do and I was ready for the opportunity to show it in the pros, regardless of what level I came from.”

The academy, located within the Pro Football Hall of Fame Village, gave Patrick a chance to learn up close from former NFL players and coaches, as well as practice that was filmed and sent to all 32 teams. After about a month in Canton, the Jaguars took notice, and he spent the rest of the season on Jacksonville’s practice squad, plus the preseason and first couple games of this year.

Denver signed the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Patrick off the Jaguars’ practice squad Sept. 23, four days after the Broncos’ Week 2 victory in Jacksonville. The 24-year-old — who didn’t start playing football until age 15 and was recruited to EKU as a wideout — made his NFL debut two weeks later against Baltimore. Along with Jonas Griffith and Mike Ford, Patrick was one of several players general manager George Paton acquired in the late preseason/early season to beef up special teams.

In his five games so far, Patrick has played 63% of the total special teams snaps, with five tackles. Paton believes that what Patrick is showing on special teams could eventually translate to more playing time on defense, where he’s only gotten 16 snaps.

“If you watch (Patrick) on special teams, this kid, he’s a freak,” Paton said recently.  “He can run and he’s learning how to play (outside linebacker in our scheme).”

The departure of Von Miller at the trade deadline slightly increased Patrick’s chances of playing outside linebacker this year, although he’s still behind Malik Reed, Jonathon Cooper and Stephen Weatherly on the depth chart. Plus, Bradley Chubb is supposed to return soon from an ankle injury, while Andre Mintze (hamstring) is also due back in the coming weeks.

Special teams coordinator Tom McMahon called Patrick “a mismatch in everything that we do” on special teams. Despite the Broncos’ overall struggles on special teams, Patrick has emerged as one of the more physical and aware players on the punt/field goal coverage, punt return, kickoff and kick return units.

“He’s got great speed, great size, great power,” McMahon said. “We’ve got to use him. He’s really great in the classroom. He loves football. He’s first class in everything he does, but the best thing is when you get out on the rectangle, he’s got some intangibles that you can’t teach, and he uses them.”

While he looks to continue carving out a role in Denver, Patrick has a couple of tangible goals for the rest of 2021. His first NFL sack is among them considering he had 27.5 of those in his time at EKU, second-most in school history. But Patrick also wants to make his presence felt on special teams even more.

“I want to make a huge special teams play, like blocked punt, blocked field goal, forced fumble on a kickoff, something like that,” Patrick said. “That’s one (goal) that’s completely in my control. Other than that, I plan to prove my worth on defense.”