Former Illinois football wide receiver Pat Bryant has been turning heads with the Denver Broncos.
Bryant, a Jacksonville, Florida, product, became the talk of training camp for Sean Payton. He elevated his stock with the Broncos with his large catch radius and ability to complete the play in traffic.
The former Illinois star was poised to become a bigger piece of Davis Webb's offense this season, but an unfortunate ankle injury against the San Francisco 49ers has derailed those plans for the time being.
Broncos WR Pat Bryant sprained his ankle during Sunday’s loss at San Francisco, and now is expected to miss “a few weeks” per source. pic.twitter.com/uwZA3UYou2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 5, 2026
With 2:48 left in the third quarter, Bryant sprained his ankle on a 30-yard pass from Bo Nix to Denver's 49-yard line. He was brought down by both Deommodore Lenoir and Ji'Ayir Brown, which twisted his ankle awkwardly in Brown's grasp.
Bryant was drafted by the Broncos in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft and has been receiving a steady amount of work prior to his injury. The former Illini has become a reliable big man for Nix in certain situations, recording 40 receptions for 511 yards and two touchdowns through 19 games.
Pat Bryant's injury is just a minor setback for a major comeback with the Denver Broncos
Illini fans were saddened by the news of Bryant's injury, as they were hoping he would continue building on his momentum from training camp. He received nothing but praise throughout the offseason, with Sean Payton saying he had a "heckuva camp."
Pat Bryant is having a “heckuva camp,” per Sean Payton.
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevens) August 24, 2026
Big-time praise for No. 13 pic.twitter.com/M8mm8OsQMY
In college, Bryant was a key piece of Illinois' offense, recording 137 receptions for 2,095 yards and 19 touchdowns through 46 games. The 2024 AP All-Big Ten First Team member also holds the Illinois record for most touchdowns in a season with 10.
Bryant's ability, which he showed in college, has been on full display in Denver, but his rise with the Broncos will unfortunately come to a halt after Sunday's injury. Thankfully, it wasn't as severe as some feared and will only require a few weeks of rest.
It's a bummer to see Bryant sidelined like this, but it's just a minor setback for a major comeback. Get ready for a big return from No. 13!
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