After an 11-game winning streak that took them to the top of the AFC West and the conference as a whole, the Denver Broncos registered their first loss since Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season. Facing another excellent story in the Jacksonville Jaguars, though, they looked thoroughly outclassed in the game.
However, things took a turn for the worse in the waning moments of the encounter. Trying to make it a less embarrassing ordeal, or potentially forcing a miracle, the Broncos made a run to cut the deficit to 34-20. Unfortunately, a brutal hit on Pat Bryant may have cost them one of their most promising receivers.
What Happened to Pat Bryant?
Despite having the second-ranked unit on PFSN’s Defense Impact, Denver was no match for a Jaguars offense that has come alive over the last month. As they scored at will, dropping 34 points, the Broncos just could not keep up.
Down 14 with less than a minute remaining in the game, they tried to trim the deficit with a quick pass play. Quarterback Bo Nix tried to make a deep pass to Bryant. However, it was the quintessential “hospital ball,” with the Jacksonville defense blasting him before he even fully touched the ground.
Immediately collapsing on the field, it was clear that the blow was a serious one to the talented wide receiver. Eventually, as he could not get up from the field of his own volition, he had to be carted off on a stretcher.
Man, #Broncos WR Pat Bryant just took a MAJOR hit: pic.twitter.com/rECewRHnqW
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) December 22, 2025
“Scary situation involving Broncos WR Pat Bryant, who had a brutal, but clean hit over the middle of the field,” wrote NFL insider Albert Breer on X. “Both teams on a knee. Bryant’s facemask unscrewed from his helmet. Hope for the best.”
Ranking 72nd on PFSN’s WR Impact, the third-round rookie selection for the Broncos has really come alive in the second half of the season. While his overall production of 305 receiving yards and a touchdown looks mediocre, that accounts for a brutal start to the season.
Through the first seven games of the year, Bryant had just 46 receiving yards to his credit. It was a 44-24 blowout over the Dallas Cowboys that saw him come alive with 40 yards and a touchdown. In 13 games before Week 16, he tallied 305 yards and a touchdown to emerge as a legitimate threat for Nix in the offense.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
