With three of their best receivers all on Injured Reserve, the Tennessee Titans desperately need help at the position until they get fully healthy, and one possible solution is veteran wide receiver, Golden Tate.
Tate, who has yet to see the field for any team this season, was signed to the Titans’ practice squad last week but didn’t see the field in Week 12 versus the New England Patriots.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said it was difficult to expect Tate to be ready that quickly, but the hope is he can eventually lend a helping hand, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online.
“That’s a tough task, to come in here and grasp enough of the game plan and what we are doing,” Vrabel said. “I know he is working hard to learn what it is we’re doing, and we’ll see where he is on Monday. But I know he has lot into studying in the few days he’s been here, and we’ll see if he can help us.”
Titans wide receivers coach Rob Moore says that part of the battle is Tate learning the playbook, but he also has to get into football shape. The veteran is currently working on both.
“We hope that him being able to kind of get immersed in the playbook a little bit more… he got into it a little bit last week, but this week hopefully he’s further along in having an understanding of what we do, and then kind of see where he’s at next week, and see if he can help us out,” Moore said.
“He’s got to get himself in football shape. He’s not quite there yet, based on what I’ve saw, but I know that that’s something he’s working on with (strength and conditioning coach) Frank (Piraino) now,” he concluded.
While the team will be without A.J. Brown for at least the next two games, it’s possible Tennessee will be getting Julio Jones back after the bye, as he’s eligible to come off IR as soon as this week.
Even with his return, the Titans still need help in their unheralded receiving corps., which has seen its fair share of issues. The hope is that Tate can provide that help, and sooner rather than later.
