Pat Bryant’s Breakout Stretch Signals a Major Shift in Broncos’ Offense
Pat Bryant’s rookie season has quickly turned into one of the most promising storylines in Denver.
He delivered his most complete performance of the season in the Broncos’ massive win over the
The rookie was the unsung hero that nobody seems to be talking about.
His breakout game gave Denver’s offense a fresh layer of reliability and explosiveness right when it needed it most.
The rookie wideout led the team with five catches for 82 yards, including a momentum-shifting 48-yard grab that helped spark one of Denver’s key scoring drives.
As Sports Illustrated noted
“Pat’s one of those guys who just does everything right,” Nix said postgame. “When the ball goes his way, we trust he’s going to make a play.”
Sean Payton echoed that confidence earlier this month, praising Bryant’s “physicality, consistency, and ability to win in key moments.”
Those traits were on full display against Kansas City as Bryant showed he’s becoming one of the most important pieces in a Denver offense that has been struggling as of late.
Bryant Shines Against Chiefs
In Denver’s crucial 22-19 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, Bryant played a major role in helping the Broncos pull off the upset.
His impact went beyond the box score and every reception seemed to arrive at just the right moment.
He moved the chains with crucial third-down conversions to extend drives, and provided Nix with a calming outlet when the pass rush closed in.
His emergence comes at an important time.
Prior to this game, Denver’s offense had been struggling mightily, scoring an average of 14 points per game in the two games prior.
The Broncos got back to their offensive rhythm from earlier in the season as Bo Nix threw for 295 yards.
The offense put up 22 points against a Chiefs defense that ranks sixth in the NFL.
A huge part of their offensive improvements was the emergence of the rookie wide out.
Bryant hauled in five of his six targets for a career high 82 yards, and he opened up the Broncos passing game at all three levels.
“Every week he shows us something new,” Payton said. “He’s earned the right to have the ball come his way more often.”
The Broncos do not win that game without the young receiver. He is becoming a massive piece of this offense.
Bryant’s Future Outlook in Offense
Bryant’s upward trajectory suggests his role is only going to expand as the Broncos push toward the postseason race.
Earlier in the season, he earned early playing time mostly through his run-blocking work.
He recorded more than 110 such snaps entering Week 11, but the Broncos are now beginning to realize how much he can contribute as a receiver.
Bryant’s usage percentage has steadily climbed over the past month:
Over the Broncos last seven games, he has played an average of 54.4% of snaps.
This is compared to his first four games of the season in which he only played an average of 21.75% of snaps.
With Sutton as the clear WR1, Franklin emerging, and Mims Jr. stretching defenses deep, Bryant’s mix of size, power, and burst to balance the other receivers who all seem to specialize in one area.
At one point this season, Bryant had 13 catches on 19 targets, and every one of those receptions went for a first down or touchdown until midway through yesterday’s game.
Even after that streak ended, he kept flashing his feel for space and timing, converting key third downs and winning consistently against man coverage.
From a fantasy football standpoint, he’s becoming a name managers should monitor closely.
With target shares trending up, snap counts rising, and Denver actively trying to get him more involved, Bryant has real waiver-wire sleeper potential.
Pat Bryant is here to stay and his role is only going to continue to evolve.
LeBron James’ ‘Biggest Issue’ Before Lakers Season Debut Revealed
Veteran forward LeBron James has not played competitive basketball since April 30, 2025, when his Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The 40-year-old returned to basketball activities only in the past week or so, first training with the G League’s South Bay Lakers and then with his Lakers teammates. As such, he’s still re-acclimating to the physical rigours of a sport he has played all his life.
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the “biggest issue” James is facing is getting his conditioning up to speed, which requires him to get his lungs back in top shape.
“The biggest issue right now that [LeBron James] shared with us is that he feels like he has newborn baby lungs and, he needs to get back to grown man lungs,” the Lakers beat writer told ESPN’s “
“The biggest issue right now that [LeBron James] shared with us is that he feels like he has newborn baby lungs and, he needs to get back to grown man lungs.”
—@mcten on Lakers forward LeBron James returning from injury
LeBron James Working Through Issues
The four-time NBA champion addressed the media and detailed the challenges he is facing since returning to the basketball court.
“My lungs feel like a newborn baby … I got to get my lungs back up to a grown man,” he said, while noting that he could make his season debut against the
“My lungs feel like a newborn baby … I got to get my lungs back up to a grown man.” LeBron James on the process of getting back into game shape. He said he would have to see how his body responds to today before deciding to play tomorrow or not.
LeBron James Missed Teammates
James, out for the first month of an NBA season for the first time in his 23-year career, admittedly misses not just playing basketball but the camaraderie of a locker room.
“I missed these guys,” he said, via McMenamin.
“Just seeing them go out there and working. I love the work, I love the process of working. I don’t miss the travel. I’m about to be 41 years old. I was happy to be at home on my couch after working out.”
The one thing James has not missed is the nonstop traveling that comes with an 82-game regular-season slate.
“I don’t miss the travel. I’m about to be 41 years old. I was happy sitting at home on my couch after working out,” James joked while addressing reporters on Monday.
“I don’t miss the travel, but I do miss the competition.”
James will join a red-hot Lakers team that owns a 10-4 record despite dealing with a plethora of injuries. The 40-year-old will officially become the first player in NBA history to play a 23rd season when he suits up for the Lakers this week.
