ALLEN PARK >> For as much talent as the Lions boasted on offense entering last season, the battle to fill their third receiver spot during training camp was a doozy, and not in a good way.

But it should be far more encouraging this year, with the crew of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Isaac TeSlaa, Kalif Raymond and Tim Patrick headlining the unit entering summer.

The Lions scooped Patrick up after he was cut by the Denver Broncos last August, and he aided the offensive effort to the tune of 394 yards, 33 catches and three touchdowns. While the arrival of TeSlaa, a third-round pick, might leave Patrick with fewer opportunities to make an impact, his reliable traits and veteran leadership remain a massive plus.

“Man, it’s very, very important that you have someone to learn from, and you have to have someone that can teach that’s not coming from the voice of a coach,” Lions receivers coach Scottie Montgomery said. “Someone that’s done it, somebody that understands the movements, especially of a big-body receiver.”

In that sense, Patrick is the perfect mentor for TeSlaa. The two receivers have similar frames — TeSlaa is 6-foot-4, 214 pounds and Patrick is 6-5, 210 pounds — and could have a similar ideal fit in an offense that includes one of the league’s best slot receivers in St. Brown.

Montgomery said St. Brown and Patrick do “a good job of teaching and coaching” and noted Patrick has value as a receiver capable of plugging and playing wherever the offense needs him.

“The details that go into our game that may differ from when you see (Williams) running it versus Tim versus St. Brown running it — you gotta have all that in,” Montgomery said. “And then it takes a tremendous amount of stress off of us on game day. I mean, we can throw different people at you right now and feel pretty good about it.”

Patrick joined the Lions fresh off two injury-derailed seasons; he didn’t play in 2022 because of a torn ACL and missed 2023 with an Achilles injury. Prior to that, he was a reliable contributor for the Broncos, putting up 742 receiving yards with six touchdown receptions and 734 yards with five touchdowns in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

While he didn’t see the field during the 2023 season, he did overlap in Denver with new Lions offensive coordinator John Morton (then the passing game coordinator for the Broncos), which should bode well for his chances of finding an on-field fit in this crowded receiver room.

“Tim has a background with us, he has a background with Coach Morton, so there’s a lot of familiarity that’s helping us,” Montgomery said, adding that Patrick “has a good understanding of what we want to do offensively.”

“So, really, really happy to have him back.”