2014 Minnesota Vikings: Vikings release Ben Tate
Arif Hasan
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The Vikings have released Ben Tate, per Field Yates at ESPN. Tate, who the Vikings claimed off of waivers after the Browns released him, carried the ball 13 times for the Vikings for only 38 yards. The Vikings have confirmed this report.
Source: the Vikings have released RB Ben Tate.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 23, 2014
When the Browns waived Tate earlier this year, both the Colts and Cardinals tried to claim him. Now, they have a 2nd chance to do so.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 23, 2014
Tate was coming off of an injury when the Browns signed him and was reinjured with the Browns. Shortly after he turned healthy enough to play for Cleveland, Cleveland waived him. He carried the ball 106 times for them for 333 yards.
No word yet on why the Vikings have released him, though it could either be because of concerns that have followed him since the draft (that he could only be a zone blocking system running back) or because he was taking too long to return to full health.
An explosive running back for the Houston Texans, Tate was exhibiting the physical talent that made him a Combine superstar. Unfortunately, it seems like injury has robbed him of that suddenness and burst, an issue that showed up in Cleveland as well.
There is no word on who will replace him on the roster for the final game.
Given the lengthy legal process Adrian Peterson will need to go through and the fact that the Vikings can have a number of players signed on the roster past the 53-man limit after the season is over in anticipation of training camp, it probably does not provide any insight into Peterson’s situation with the Vikings or the NFL.