Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton is circling a different kind of matchup this week, the one inside the matchup.
Sutton lit up when asked about former teammate Tim Patrick, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, calling him “my dog” and saying it’ll be “cool” to go against him for the first time with Patrick on the other sideline. Sutton made his comments at a press conference on December 17.
And yes, Sutton confirmed the postgame plan: the jersey swap is happening.
“Definitely a jersey for sure,” Sutton said, adding it’s “already locked in.”
The Broncos host the Jaguars on December 21 at Empower Field at Mile High (4:05 p.m. ET).
Sutton Says Patrick “Deserves It” After Injury Comeback
Sutton’s tone wasn’t just friendly, it was protective, like a teammate still rooting from a distance.
He pointed to Patrick’s road back through injuries and the “underdog” label, saying Patrick has the “mindset” to block it out and keep proving himself.
Patrick’s resume backs up the comeback talk. Patrick missed all of 2022 with an ACL tear and all of 2023 with an Achilles tear before returning to play again.
Now he’s in Jacksonville and has popped in a limited role: Patrick has 13 catches for 172 yards and 3 touchdowns this season, including a two-TD game against Green Bay.
Sutton also joked that the two have already been chirping, with Patrick telling him he’s “not talking” the rest of the week until after the game. Sutton, for his part, has recorded 63 receptions for 886 yards and six touchdowns this season. The 30-year-old is averaging 63 receiving yards a game.
What It Means for Broncos-Jaguars
This reunion is landing inside a massive spot for Denver.
The Broncos are 12-2 and riding an 11-game win streak, and the Week 16 matchup comes with real implications at the top of the AFC.
Per the Broncos’ official clinching-scenarios release, Denver has paths this week to clinch the AFC West and even the AFC’s No. 1 seed, depending on results around the league.
That’s part of why Sutton’s comments hit: he’s clearly enjoying the human moment, but he’s also been in that “don’t get distracted” mode all year.
The moment also lands because Sutton and Patrick weren’t just “teammates” in the abstract, they lived through the grind years together, when Denver’s seasons often ended with teams looking toward the offseason. Sutton even referenced that contrast in the same availability, noting how different it feels to be playing meaningful games late with real standings implications.
That’s what makes the Patrick angle pop: it’s a reunion story, but it’s also a reminder of how fast careers (and franchises) can flip. Sunday’s still business first, but Sutton’s already making it clear he won’t forget the people who helped carry the storm.
Earlier in the presser, Sutton dropped the line that sums up the Broncos’ current vibe: “I don’t think the time to reflect is during the storm.”
Denver can do the reflecting later. Sunday is about handling business, and then, if Sutton gets his way, swapping jerseys with an old friend who fought his way back.
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