Ben Tate is the newest member of the Minnesota Vikings. The team announced Wednesday afternoon it had claimed Tate on waivers from the Cleveland Browns.
The running back was cut by the Cleveland Tuesday.
Tate was the backup to Arian Foster in Houston for four years before signing with the Browns as a free agent last off-season. He expected to be the No. 1 back in Cleveland, but the emergence of rookies Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West were digging into what Tate believed would be his workload.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Browns waived Tate after his complaints became too much.
Tate struggled to find reps with two talented rookie RBs in CLE but ran for 994yds & 771yds as a replacement for Foster in HOU. #Vikings
— Aj Mansour (@AjKFAN) November 19, 2014
Here’s more from ESPN.com:
“Since rushing for 202 combined yards in Weeks 5 and 6, Tate averaged 1.7 yards per carry in his last five games, going for 90 yards on 53 attempts.”
In eight games with the Browns this season Tate rushed for 333 yards and four touchdowns. He averaged a career-worst 3.1 yards per carry. For his career though, Tate has 527 carries for 2,325 yards and 14 touchdowns in his four seasons.
Tate might have a chance to get some immediate playing time this weekend against the Green Bay Packers because Matt Asiata and Jerick McKinnon are currently hurting.
Asiata has a concussion. He did not practice today. Nor did Wright (hamstring), Jennings (rib), McKinnon (back) and Mike Harris (ankle).
— Matt Vensel (@mattvensel) November 19, 2014
#Vikings waived MarQueis Gray to make room for RB Ben Tate
— Master (@MasterTes) November 19, 2014
ESPN’s John Clayton said if the Vikings decide to release Peterson in the offseason, Tate could be the man to replace him in the backfield.
