New York Giants wideout Golden Tate doesn’t want to be looked at as the replacement for the traded Odell Beckham Jr.
Golden Tate is finally back with the team he signed to in the offseason. After inking a four-year, $37.5 million deal with the New York Giants in March, Tate learned he would be suspended for the first four regular-season games. The veteran wideout violated the NFL‘s substance policy.
Thus, Tate missed the Giants’ first two losses to the Cowboys and Bills along with their succeeding wins over the Buccanneers and Redskins. He’ll finally suit up and play this Sunday against the Vikings, and as his 2019 season begins, Tate wants to be viewed as his own individual. If anything, he doesn’t want to be perceived as the replacement for the traded Odell Beckham Jr.
“With me being an older guy in this league, and kind of knowing my worth and knowing what I bring to a team, there wasn’t really any pressure,” Tate said of coming in after the OBJ trade, per Steve Serby of the New York Post. “Obviously Odell is a phenomenal athlete, incredible talent, and we’re very lucky to be able to watch him.
“But I didn’t feel pressure kind of filling anyone’s shoes. I just was gonna come in, bring the spark and do what I’ve been doing when I was in Seattle and Detroit and the brief time I was in Philly.”
Tate is coming back at a beneficial time for the Giants. Rookie quarterback Daniel Jones is heading into his third career start, and with any young quarterback, the more weapons to utilize, the better. Tate, Sterling Shepard, tight end Evan Engram, and temporary starting running back Wayne Gallman need to provide Jones the support he needs this week and beyond.
The Giants will play host to the Vikings on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
