Wide receiver/kick returner Brandon Tate visited with the Chiefs this week and the prospect of losing him may have spurred the Bengals into taking action to ensure Tate’s return to the team for the 2015 season.
The Bengals announced Wednesday that they have re-signed Tate, who has spent the last four seasons in Cincinnati.
“Brandon has been a big contributor to the success of our team in qualifying for the playoffs the past four seasons,” coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement. “We are happy he has decided to remain a Bengal.”
Tate joined the Bengals as a waiver claim in 2011 after he was cut loose by the Patriots and has spent most of his time with the team as their primary kickoff and punt returner. He wasn’t particularly productive in either role last season, which led many to believe that the Bengals would be looking elsewhere for return help in 2015.
They still may do that in the draft, especially if they can find a player who also offers a potential boost to the offense as a receiver. Tate caught 17 passes for the Bengals last season, but has never made much of an impact in the passing game during his time with the team.