The Atlanta Falcons have one of the most versatile players in the NFL and they are choosing not to define his role. Cordarrelle Patterson is not listed at a specific position on the team’s official depth chart for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers.
That will presumably be the case all season. He’s undefinable.
Patterson, 32, did it all in college. After two years of JUCO ball, the South Carolina-native caught 46 passes for 778 yards and five touchdowns while also running for 308 yards and three touchdowns on 25 rushing attempts in one season at Tennessee. His 772 return yards was near the top of college football.
From there, Patterson went on to be drafted No. 29 overall in 2013 and began his NFL career in Minnesota. The Vikings mostly used him as a pass-catcher.
And then, in 2018, New England got ahold of Patterson and gave him a career-high 42 carries. His touches out of the backfield only increased from there.
Patterson ran the ball 64 times with Chicago in 2020, and nearly 300 times with Atlanta in each of the last two seasons. Meanwhile, his receptions remained consistent with the rest of his career.
He is a wide receiver that plays running back. It’s unique.
Cordarrelle Patterson is the Joker.
Unwilling to put Patterson in a box, the Falcons decided not to define him. Their first depth chart of the season lists two receives, two tight ends, a running back, a quarterback and the five starting offensive linemen.
It also lists Patterson by himself at his own position — J.
What does the “J” mean? Joker.
For the first time in NFL history, Cordarrelle Patterson warrants his own position. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier will take over the backfield. Drake London and Kyle Pitts will star in the passing game.
Patterson will get his touches somewhere in between. He does it all. He is the Joker.