Lions WR Golden Tate was the team’s leading receiver in 2014, but the team may need him in an even bigger role in the playoffs.
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With the Detroit Lions on the road and eager for their first playoff win in 20 years, the team may turn to leading WR Golden Tate to give them a boost in the return game against the Dallas Cowboys.
In Seattle back in 2013, Tate was both a starting WR and the punt returner. When the Lions signed him this offseason, they shifted all of his attention to offense. Tate did say that he’d love to get a chance to do it on Sunday against the Cowboys.
“I also pay close attention because you never know when Jeremy Ross breaks a shoelace or needs a breather for whatever the reason is or whatever,” he said, via Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News. “I always want to be prepared, and like I’ve been saying, I want to help this team any way I can. In my mind, this is a must-win game and there’s nobody that wants to get back to the big show again (more) than I so I’m trying to help this team get there.”
Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said it’s a possibility, although as always, he played things close to the vest.
“Everything is considered,” Caldwell said when asked of the possibility of Tate returning punts. “Everything is looked at seriously.”
Ross has averaged 8.9 yards per punt return this year, but Tate averaged 11.5 yards per punt return for the Seahawks last year. Tate also has better hands than Ross, who has fumbled four times this year.
Tate led the Lions in receiving yards with a career high 1,331 yards, beating out his teammate 3-time All-Pro WR Calvin Johnson for the lead. Johnson, however, led the team with 8 TDs.
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