He might be forced to help immediately. The biggest concern with the Vikings at the position is running back Matt Asiata, who didn't practice on Wednesday as he goes through the concussion protocol. Rookie running back Jerick McKinnon played through a low back injury last week, but he missed practice as well.
That would explain why the Vikings signed running back Dominique Williams to the practice squad with their open spot after cornerback Pierre Warren was signed by the Saints. They need help at the position and multiple options in case either, or both, can't play against the Packers.
I think he can be serviceable, but I'm not banking on a 100-yard rushing performance. Tate hasn't played under offensive coordinator Norv Turner before, and I'm not sure if he's played in a similar system before, so they'd likely have to simplify some elements of the run game so Tate can be useful three days before the game. It's a difficult situation to prepare a player in such a limited amount of time, but it gives the Vikings an experienced back for at least the rest of the season and possibly next year.
Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson took a step back but not sure I'd call it a major step back. He's had a disappointing season, both on offense and kickoff returns, given how effective he was in a limited role as a rookie. It comes with the territory of learning how to prepare when opponents are gameplanning to shut you down. Patterson still hasn't learned how to deal with that, struggling to get open consistently and becoming a viable option for rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Once again, there's still time for Patterson to turn it around but the window is more open for him than left tackle Matt Kalil, who is going through another bad season. Though he's only in his third season, it's a legitimate question to ask whether Kalil will return to his rookie season form. To the viewer's eye, Kalil's struggles are more noticeable because we see Bridgewater sacked or pressured from his blindside time and time again.
Face it though, they're both not playing up to their capabilities and have hurt the Vikings offense significantly this season.
It can work for a period of time, but it's not sustainable when the team isn't structured to play an entire game that way, nor will it structured in such a manner in the future. I'd like to see it in spurts, however, given how good Bridgewater has been and also to throw defenses off.
But the important thing for Bridgewater at this point will be to receive as many snaps as possible in the pace the offense will flow in the future. The more experience he receives in that, the more comfortable Bridgewater will become. I think that's the most important thing to watch over the final six games. We haven't seen Bridgewater comfortable for an entire game since his first career start, particularly during the first half.
