Golden Tate didn’t exactly see a ton of snaps during the second half of the Detroit Lions’ 17-14 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but head coach Jim Caldwell was careful to note that the receiver was not benched.
After the loss, Caldwell was asked about Tate, who had just one catch for one yard on four targets and was not part of the offense’s three-wide receiver sets to start the second half. Caldwell tried to spin it by saying that rotating Tate in and out of the game was part of the team’s plan.
Jim Caldwell is trying to say Golden Tate wasn't benched. Said plan was for him to be moved in and out in 2nd half.
Ok, Jim.
— Kyle Meinke (@kmeinke) October 2, 2016
Jim Caldwell on why he benched Golden Tate pic.twitter.com/JhIB7RNSDl
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) October 2, 2016
Despite what Caldwell said, the timing of Tate’s lack of action in the second half did not seem to be coincidental. At the end of the first half, Matthew Stafford threw an interception on a pass intended for Tate. Stafford threw to the sideline while Tate kept running toward the end zone, and the QB was livid with his receiver afterwards for apparently running the wrong route. That likely explains the “benching” more than anything else.
“Just a silly mistake on my part,” Tate said after the game. “I missed a signal. It cost us three points. That can’t happen in this offense. The team expects more out of me.”
