Big-legged kicker Jake Bates, who recently finished his breakout season with the UFL’s Michigan Panthers, has agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions, increasing competition at one of the team’s least reliable spots on the roster in recent years.
His agent, Marty Magid, and Panthers general manager Steve Kazor confirmed the agreement on Saturday. It is expected to be signed the following week. Converting from soccer to college, Bates was a kickoff specialist at Texas State and then Arkansas.
He received consideration from the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent during the previous summer after ranking among the NCAA leaders in average kickoff distance and touchbacks as a senior in 2022.
Before being cut go, Bates made an appearance in the 2023 Texans preseason opener. Throughout the game, he kicked off four times and converted two of the three extra points. He refrained from trying a field goal.
After signing with the Panthers for the inaugural season of the UFL, Bates gained notoriety for his long-distance conversion skills.
He made a 64-yard game-winning pass in the opening game of the season. With Justin Tucker’s 66-yarder against the Lions in 2021 coming in second, that would tie the record for the longest field goal in NFL history.
Two more field goals from 60 yards or longer were added by Bates, including a 62-yarder the next week. He was 17 of 22 when the season ended.
Two more field goals from 60 yards or longer were added by Bates, including a 62-yarder the next week. He was 17 of 22 when the season ended. It’s unclear at this time if Bates will temporarily carry three kickers into training camp or if he will replace another on Detroit’s roster.
After making 85.7% of his field goal attempts with the Lions the previous two seasons, veteran Michael Badgley came into the offseason as the clear favorite to win the position.
However, undrafted rookie James Turner, out of the University of Michigan, had been making a strong case during OTAs and minicamp with leg strength that could rival Bates.
The Lions have not been able to locate a solid replacement for Matt Prater since his departure prior to the 2021 season. Turner or Bates would be the sixth different player to kick during that stretch of the regular season if they were to emerge victorious from camp. Austin Siebert, Ryan Santoso, Aldrick Rosas, Riley Patterson, Dominik Eberle, and Badgley are the players on that list.
