Insider: How Mike Strachan and Dezmon Patmon made cases in the Colts' wide receiver battle

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Colts wanted to see someone emerge from the depths of their receiving corps.

In Saturday's preseason game against the Lions, they were treated to a couple much-needed highlights.

First was the red-zone snap where Mike Strachan burst off the line for a flag route and beat his man to the back of the end zone to haul in a touchdown pass from Sam Ehlinger. Almost before the referee signaled for a touchdown, the second-year receiver was tossing the ball as high as he could into the air in Lucas Oil Stadium -- so high that he couldn't find the ball afterward.

"It was emotional," Strachan said. "It just exploded. I couldn't help it."

The second highlight came when Ehlinger broke outside of the pocket and chucked it down the left sideline to Dezmon Patmon, who was backpedaling uncovered like a center-fielder until he caught the ball, rolled onto his back and stretched it across the goalline for a 50-yard score.

"I was backpedaling for like 10 yards and then I fell," said Patmon, who finished with a game-high five catches for 103 yards. "I was like, 'All right, I don't see blue (end zone), so I know I'm close,' and so then I rolled over. I knew I got in."

Both receivers have battled their way to get here, through challenges that are mental, physical and social.

Strachan couldn't practice through most of voluntary spring workouts and the first two weeks of training camp due to a surgically repaired meniscus. He spent day after day watching other young and toolsy receivers run routes for Reggie Wayne and catch passes from Matt Ryan. None of those players exactly broke out, leaving the door cracked for his return Tuesday.

A second-year, seventh-round pick out of Division II Charleston with two career catches was sure to have a learning curve after that time off, but it didn't show Saturday. He caught each of his three targets for 45 yards and a touchdown.

"It seems like he's gone from 0 to 60 in a second," Colts coach Frank Reich said. "There were a couple weeks back where you're thinking, 'I'm not sure he's going to be ready to practice until the season opener,' and then all of a sudden he makes a recovery and he's out there making a big-time touchdown in this game today."

MORE: Sam Ehlinger, Dezmon Patmon and what we learned from Colts preseason loss to Lions

Patmon has been fully healthy throughout the spring and summer, which allowed him to grab some early first-team reps. But for two weeks of training camp, he has struggled to make more than the occasional deep-ball catch. He entered Saturday with five total receptions in 11-on-11 practices, just one of which came from Ryan.

The third-year, sixth-round pick out of Washington State has kept a bright attitude through it, leaning on his knowledge of the playbook and his bond with Michael Pittman Jr. But his ever-present smile grew after Saturday's performance, including when Pittman Jr. asked him a question in the post-game gathering.

"What's it like being the slowest receiver in the corps?" Pittman Jr. said into a camera.

Patmon answered, "You would have to ask Michael Pittman Jr. that question and get back to me on that."

These Colts receivers are competing with each other for roster spots in a sense, but they're also competing for each other. They've heard the knocks about how Pittman Jr. is the only real receiver they have after the Colts were the only team last year with just one player with 395 receiving yards. They've heard about their youth, with how the Colts have no receivers in the rotation over 25 years old.

Both could make the final 53-man roster, now that the Colts lost rookie tight end Drew Ogletree for the season and might carry six wide receivers to compensate. Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Parris Campbell and Ashton Dulin have spots already, leaving up to two available.

Patmon and Strachan have more similarities than differences: They both have two career catches, were Day 3 picks, were born in August of consecutive years and are at least 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds.

The coaching staff and front office have remained in their corner, through their words and the moves they haven't made. On Saturday, offensive coordinator Marcus Brady came over to Patmon and Strachan in the locker room and gave both a fist bump.

Saturday's 27-26 loss to the Lions didn't count, and the tests will be far tougher than a home game where starters sat. In next week's dress rehearsal against the Buccaneers and beyond, Strachan and Patmon will need to show the consistency that has eluded both.

Saturday was about smiles and warm feelings. Soon, it'll have to be about something more sustainable than that.

"There's no time to waste," Strachan said.

Contact Colts insider Nate Atkins at natkins@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Colts: How Mike Strachan, Dezmon Patmon made cases in receiver battle