Golden Tate’s return from a four-game suspension allowed the inside linebacker-needy Giants to cut from a position of strength. And so Bennie Fowler, the team’s third-leading receiver, was surprisingly the victim of circumstance in a busy day of moves.

To make room for Tate and rookie Josiah Tauaefa, who was promoted from the practice squad, Fowler and TJ Jones were released on Tuesday. Jones muffed two punts in Sunday’s win over the Redskins and received just five offensive snaps, putting his roster spot in jeopardy. Fowler, with 12 receptions and 20 targets for 99 yards, was the bigger surprise. He was in his second season with the Giants and appeared in 10 games last year.

But the Giants needed to create a roster spot for Tauaefa after Ryan Connelly was lost for the season with a torn ACL and the status of fellow inside linebackers Alec Ogletree (hamstring) and Tae Davis (concussion) is uncertain. The only other middle linebackers on the roster are recent additions David Mayo and Nate Stupar.

The 6-foot-1, 232-pound Tauaefa, an undrafted free agent out of Texas-San Antonio, led the Giants with 16 tackles during the preseason and added a sack and fumble recovery.

“I like everything that Josiah’s doing,” linebackers coach Bill McGovern said last week. “He’s been preparing, does a great job in the meeting room. He’s working his tail off. When I say this, he’s one of those guys who has definitely gotten better since he’s been here.”

It is unclear who will replace Jones as the team’s punt returner. On the Giants’ official depth chart, Tate was listed in his spot. Wide receiver Da’Mari Scott and linebacker Devante Downs were added to the practice squad.