Shortly after a 28-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon, New York Giants wide receiver Golden Tate, fresh off a four-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy, appeared to express some frustration with his offensive role.
“It felt good to get back out there,” Tate told reporters. “Obviously, I wish I had a few more opportunities to help us win, but I’ll watch film very critically. I’ll get with DJ (Daniel Jones), my coach, the OC and see what I can do better to help us win and help us move the chains a little bit more.
“Obviously, I want to be out there as much as possible, but we’ll see. It’s the first week back for me. I hope my role increases, but we’ll see.”
In his first game back, Tate was targeted just six times, hauling in three receptions for 13 yards. However, with Sterling Shepard out due to another concussion, Tate’s role is poised to grow substantially.
With that news fresh in his mind — or a clearer head after a moment to think about it — Tate seemed to walk back some of his frustrations on Monday night.
“Honestly, whatever it takes to win, that’s the goal here for everybody in this locker room. That’s what I want my part to be, just help us win, so if that means I run more plays, so be it,” Tate said. “Less plays, whatever, just win. Coming into this locker room after last week’s win was fun and today wasn’t as fun, we want to get back to winning.”
While it’s a positive for the Giants to have Tate immediately slide into Shepard’s role, there is certainly a level of growing frustration that the team’s top playmakers — Saquon Barkley, Evan Engram, Tate and Shepard — have yet to take a single regular season snap together.
That won’t change on Thursday night with Tate in and Shepard out, but at least the veteran wide receiver won’t see a lack of targets this time around.
