Tate’s first NFL game counted as both a debut and a return, his welcome to the league and his first action since last fall, when he tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments on a punt return, the premature final play of his career at North Carolina.
Undeterred by Tate’s injury, the Patriots drafted him in the third round in April. He concluded his rehab and began practicing in full last week, and the Patriots activated him for Sunday’s blowout victory over Tampa Bay in London.
With Julian Edelman out indefinitely with a broken forearm, Tate and special teams ace Sam Aiken will share snaps as the third wide receiver.
“We need depth at that position, and he’s going to be called upon as a contributor even though he’s a rookie,’’ quarterback Tom Brady said. “So he’s got to keep making improvements.’’
In Tate, the Patriots may have a draft steal. At North Carolina, he set an NCAA record for combined kickoff and punt-return yards with 3,523. He played alongside Giants first-round pick Hakeem Nicks and gained 23.5 yards per catch his senior season.
In three-receiver formations, the Tar Heels chose to play Tate in the slot so they could feature him on screens and reverses. Even with him in the same offense as Nicks, coaches wanted to find ways to get Tate the ball.
“Had Brandon not gotten hurt, Brandon would have been a first-rounder, in my opinion,’’ said UNC wide receivers coach Charlie Williams. “He was tearing it up - tearing it up - early in the season.’’
Williams came to North Carolina in 2006, after Tate’s freshman season. Tate had played mostly special teams, but Williams believed he could contribute as a wide receiver.
Tate ran precise routes, and Williams said his athleticism allows him to beat any kind of coverage. His speed takes away the advantage of a cornerback playing off of him - “he can close a cushion in a New York second,’’ Williams said.
Tate, at 6 feet 1 inch and 195 pounds, is not a physical wideout, but he can dance around press coverage because of nimble feet.
