According to Monique Walker of the Boston Globe, the Patriots have informed wide receiver Brandon Tate that they plan to release him before today's roster-cut deadline.

Tate's release comes as to no surprise, as battled several injuries throughout training camp and was unable to show his skill set at wide receiver during the preseason. Already behind Chad Ochocinco, Wes Welker, Deion Branch and Julian Edelman on the wide receiver depth chart; Tate was pushed to strictly special teams duties as the team's kickoff returner. Thanks to the new NFL rule that make kickoff returns more difficult, the Patriots felt as if they didn't need to keep Tate around as a designated kickoff returner.

The former third-round pick out of North Carolina was in competition with fellow wide outs Taylor Price and Matthew Slater for possibly two open roster spots. With Tate gone, Price and Slater are both likely to make the team.

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