Tim Patrick signed a one-year deal with Detroit but faces a real roster squeeze as Isaac TeSlaa pushes for WR3 duties. Detroit traded up for TeSlaa, signaling a long-term plan at receiver even as Patrick’s departure looms if a trade partner emerges. Dead-money math looms: cutting Patrick would cost $2.5 million in dead cap; a trade would trim that to $1.245 million, keeping the door open for a deal without crippling cap impact.

TeSlaa’s camp buzz intensified after a strong Hall of Fame game showing, where he led with 46 receiving yards on two catches in a rough offensive day for the Lions. If that momentum continues, TeSlaa could overtake Patrick for WR3 quickly, reshaping the Lions’ WR pecking order behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond. Patrick’s prior line (33 catches, 394 yards, 3 TDs) plus 20 first-down conversions on 33 catches indicates he isn’t irrelevant, but the preseason suggests a change in Lions’ receiver calculus could be coming fast.