Denver turned heads with Pat Bryant again, but this time it wasn’t all about yardage. In Saturday night’s 27-7 preseason win over the Arizona Cardinals, the Broncos’ young receiver stood out for a reason that goes beyond the stat sheet: his blocking.
Bryant contributed four catches for 70 yards to lead the team, but it was the effort on the edge that caught teammates and coaches’ eyes. The night’s highlight came after Evan Engram’s 58-yard catch-and-run, a play that showcased the tight end’s speed and the Broncos’ air attack. As Engram raced down the right sideline, Bryant delivered a powerful block that drove Arizona cornerback Denzel Burke out of bounds, a sequence that underscored Bryant’s willingness to do the dirty work to keep drives alive.
“I had some good blocks today. I had some pretty good blocks,” Bryant said afterward, wearing a smile that reflected his pride in the effort. “I had a good block for Ev on the sideline. So, that kind of fuels me. Like, it gets me going just a little bit. But I know the football gods will look out for you when you make those good blocks like that. And they definitely looked out for me tonight.”
Bryant’s impact isn’t limited to his blocking, of course. He’s shown a physicality that translates to his pass-catching as well, with a willingness to throw his body into the middle of the field and a determination to attack the ball. “I become friendly, like, I don’t drift away from the ball. I always come back, I attack the ball so they can throw anywhere, like anywhere in the middle of the field. Just based off how I run my route, I’m gonna be able to catch the ball,” he added.
The Broncos’ quarterback room was vocal in its praise, too. Jarrett Stidham said Bryant’s early performance reflects a broader growth arc: “Just like with any young guy there is learning curve, but the more he’s playing and the more confidence he’s gaining is huge. He made some really great plays tonight.”
The combination of Bryant’s toughness, a developing route game, and chemistry with Engram gives Denver reason to be optimistic about its young receiver corps. The blunt takeaway from Saturday is that Bryant’s physical style isn’t just a one-off: it’s a skill set that could keep him on the field and expanding his role as the season progresses.
What this could mean going forward is simple: as Bryant continues to grow more comfortable catching the ball and sustaining blocks, he gains more opportunities. In preseason, that translates to real possibilities for a roster spot, more snaps in the offense, and a potential spark on game days when the Broncos need a reliable, hard-nosed target in the middle of the field.
Bottom line: Bryant’s blend of grit, hands, and willingness to lay it on the line is making him a player to watch as Denver builds toward a longer grind of a season. The early returns in preseason have been encouraging, and the Broncos are clearly getting a sense that Bryant’s toughness translates to production in multiple facets of the game.
Optional note for editors: Highlight Bryant’s blocking as a recurring theme in the preseason to frame him as a well-rounded contributor, not just a receiver, and consider a sidebar on how practice-field chemistry with Engram and the blocking ability align with the Broncos’ broader offensive identity. If you want a concise summary for social previews, you could tagline: “Pat Bryant shines with blocking as much as receptions in Broncos’ preseason win.”