Detroit Lions getting receivers back would be a huge boost

NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 15: Golden Tate #15 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball atainst Ken Crawley #20 of the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 15, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - OCTOBER 15: Golden Tate #15 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball atainst Ken Crawley #20 of the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 15, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
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The Detroit Lions offense is desperate for big plays. Injured Lions, Golden Tate and Kenny Golladay, might play Sunday. How would they impact the outcome?

Tate breaks a tackle
NEW ORLEANS, LA – OCTOBER 15: Golden Tate #15 of the Detroit Lions runs the ball atainst Ken Crawley #20 of the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on October 15, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

In my article last week I discussed who the Detroit Lions might draft next year to get better. This week, help may be on its way much sooner. It is possible for both Kenny Golladay and Golden Tate, two injured wide receivers, to both return to the field this Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Let’s discuss their status, what they bring to the table, and what the Lions are likely to do in the event that either is unavailable.

Tate and Golladay status

Coming into the Lions bye week, the team seemed to collectively limp into the locker room. The crazy back and forth of the New Orleans game left the Lions scrambling for healthy bodies to finish the game.

Fast forward to Wednesday and the outlook is not as bleak. Tim Twentymen, Lions beat writer, tweeted this on Wednesday afternoon.

The injury bug has bitten the Lions hard again in 2017, but getting their two big play receivers back would greatly improve the Lions chances of a win this week. Ian Rapoport, NFL Network reporter, had tweeted that Tate was likely to miss several weeks on October sixteenth. Here is his entry:

Limited participation doesn’t mean that they are both going to play, but it also doesn’t rule out the possibility.

Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press Lions reporter, had the following to say about Tate:

"Tate was a surprise participant in Detroit Lions practice Wednesday, less than two weeks after he suffered a shoulder injury in the second half of a loss to the New Orleans Saints. Tate ran routes and caught passes during the individual portion of practice, even going high to catch one ball."

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