AFC Notes: Broncos, Frank Clark, Chiefs, Raiders

Broncos

Broncos WR Tim Patrick made a big jump in his second season in the NFL, catching 51 balls for 742 yards and six touchdowns, but he’s not ready to admit he’s “made it” in the NFL.

“To say ‘I made it,’ you have to do something special,” Patrick said via BroncosWire. “The most special thing you can do in this league is win a Super Bowl. I don’t want to say I’m special because I feel like I don’t get the respect. I wish I could have gotten a first-round tender, or I wish I could have gotten an extension. No, I don’t feel good. I don’t talk to you guys enough, so I need to do more. I’m not talked about on TV enough, so I need to do more.”

Patrick acknowledged that while he did have a good season last year, he doesn’t want to fall into the trap of complacency and take a step back.

“There are so many things I need to do. I have to be more consistent. It’s one good year. I have to stack them because a lot of people have one good year and they go quiet the next year. My job is not to fall in that statistic.”

Chiefs

While Chiefs’ DE Frank Clark deals with his criminal charge of felony possession of an assault weapon, HC Andy Reid still expects him to report for the start of training camp.

“There’s nothing that has taken place up to this point,” Reid said, via Herbie Teope of the Kansas City Star. “Frank will be here and we’ll go forward with that. Obviously, we keep tabs on it and his people will keep tabs on their side of it, and we move forward. So, that’s where we’re at now. But he will be here — not now, but in a couple of days here when the veterans come in.”

While Clark could be disciplined by the NFL, Reid said he has confidence in Alex Okafor, Taco Charlton, Mike Danna, and Joshua Kaindoh. The Chiefs still won’t be happy with Clark on the sideline as he carries a $25.8 million cap hit this season.

“We brought old 97 [Okafor] back and put him back in the mix here,” Reid said. “I think that’s a good addition. I think we’re going to be OK there. We’ve got a couple of young guys that we think are good football players.”

Raiders

Raiders DL Solomon Thomas is riding a lot of positive momentum into 2021 even though his last year with the 49ers ended with him tearing his ACL, plus other damage to his knee. Thomas was back in the weight room with no restrictions just five months after his surgery, which is abnormal for an injury that typically takes nine months to a year. He was a full participant in the spring with his new team and thinks his new role, where he’ll be a full-time defensive tackle, is better suited to his skills. 

“The three-tech is where I made my bread and butter in college,” Thomas said via the Athletic’s Tashan Reed. “That’s where I feel the most efficient. I feel like I can be extremely explosive. I’m quick. I’m really strong with my size and I’m just ready to go there. I’m ready to wreak havoc. I’m ready to get after it and we’re going to be disruptive and I’m really lucky to be a part of this talented defensive line.”