The numbers suggest trouble, returning David Patten to a familiar spot. He’s in a fight for survival.
Not that he’s worried about it. Nor should he: Patten isn’t going anywhere. Receivers coach Stan Hixon smiled, laughed and issued a long, “Nooooo,” when it was suggested that Patten might not be around this season.
But that won’t stop Patten from believing it’s possible. The numbers tell him so. In some ways, Patten is more comfortable living life on the roster bubble.
“I’vehad to fight for my spot year in and year out,” he said. “There’s no need to stress about it because I have no control over that. When New England felt it could no longer use me, there was another suitor.”
Patten, who spent four seasons in New England before signing with the Redskins, knows the situation: The Redskins added two potentially explosive wideouts in the offseason; they have an intriguing young guy in Mike Espy, a veteran in James Thrash who is a key special teamer and another receiver in Jimmy Farris who is solid on special teams.
But the Redskins also happen to like Patten. That’s why they signed him in the first place. So he’s going nowhere.
“David fits in big in our plans,” Hixon said. “We’ve got four-wideout sets; three-wideout sets and he can play multiple positions. It’s a long season; he’ll be a big contributor.”
Patten’s first year did not go as hoped for: He hurt his knee early in the year, played injured and eventually required arthroscopic knee surgery. He ended the season on the injured reserve list, with only 22 receptions.
Then, just before camp opened, he contracted viral meningitis, forcing him to miss the first week. He’s only now getting back to form. But that form is starting to look better: Patten has looked much sharper in practice this week than last.
“David is starting to feel comfortable again,” Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. “He has excellent speed and he’s really crafty on routes. He’s back to feeling good and that’s good news for us.”
Patten says he’s close, but not quite fully recovered.
“Anytime you go through an illness like that it takes a lot out of you,” he said. “I still don’t feel like my old self; I don’t feel my explosion yet. But from where folks expected me to be, I’m much further along.”
The Redskins likely will keep five receivers active in most games, which is good news for Patten.
And even though he says he analyzes the numbers, Patten knows he’ll have a spot. That’s why he’s not bothered by having missed a week of camp.
“I’ve been in the game 10 years,” he said. “I don’t want to rush it. The coaches know what I can do.”
