FOXBORO — Opportunity may be knocking for Brandon Tate and Terrence Nunn.

In the wake of the reported injury to rookie receiver Julian Edleman and the release of veteran Joey Galloway, it appears that at least one of the two young wide receivers could be in line to be promoted to the 53-man roster this week leading up to Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay in London.

Tate tore his ACL and MCL last season at the University of North Carolina, but the Patriots still thought enough of him to take him in the third round of the draft last spring. But as a result of last year’s injury, he started his New England career on the reserve/non-football injury list. He became eligible to practice for the first time this week, a moment that was a long time in coming.

“I’m glad this moment has come,” Tate said Wednesday morning. “I feel comfortable. I have the trust back in the knee. I’m ready to go.

“I’ve been here since the summer, so I’ve just been sitting in there, learning from [Randy] Moss, from [Wes] Welker. Even from the younger guys. I’ve just been getting mentally ready. I feel like I know the plays, so we’ll see how today goes.”

Tate’s was allowed to be in meetings and film sessions with the rest of the team throughout the offseason and into the regular season, and began practicing with the Patriots this week. However, he knows that mental reps are one thing, but practice and game action are quite another.

“I just want to feel more and more comfortable, just try to get the coaches trust to get me in the game,” he said. “It’s been a long time, but I feel like I’m ready.”

Edelman has 21 catches for 188 yards through the first five games. In addition, he’s worked as a kick and punt returner — he has seven kick returns where he’s racked up 157 yards for an average of 22.4 yards per return; he also has six punt returns for 63 yards and a 10.5 yards per return average.

Tate’s history as a returner could also help him earn a spot on special teams. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Tate is the NCAA career leader in combined kick-return yards with 3,523.

“The only thing they have to go on is my college film, so I’ve got to go out there today and show them I’ve still got it,” Tate said. “You get tired of just lifting and all that, but it’s all for the good. I put all that behind me, got all that down pat, and now, it’s time to play.”

Nunn took a far less heralded route to the NFL. The 23-year-old sat out all of last season before he was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on May 11. He made the most of his chance this preseason, where he caught eight passes for 133 yards. He was particularly impressive in the preseason finale, where he had three catches for 64 yards, which likely landed him a spot on New England’s practice squad.

With the recent moves, he has allowed himself to think that this might be the week.

“It could be. It could be,” said the 6-foot, 195-pounder. “I just have to keep preparing like I have been every week, and when the opportunity presents itself, be ready to go.”

Nunn’s four-year career at Nebraska was highlighted by 136 receptions (including a streak of 32 straight games with a catch), a feat that left him second in Cornhuskers history. Like Tate, he also has some value on special teams — while at Nebraska, he also returned 35 punts for 446 yards, a 12.7-yard average.

“There’s a lot I still need to work on, but I feel like it’s progressed. I just have to keep learning from Randy and Sam and Wes and different people like that,” Nunn said. “I’ve been studying harder, me and Tom have been talking, me and Randy have talked about different things. I just have to be prepared and ready to go.”