Caleb Williams’ confident message to Chicago Bears punter Tory Taylor might come back to haunt him as they prepare to face Jake Bates, whose remarkable journey with the Detroit Lions continues.
Shortly after being selected first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Bears, Williams reached out to Taylor, Chicago’s fourth-round pick, assuring the former Iowa punter that his services would rarely be needed. Williams expressed faith in his ability to lead a high-powered offense that would keep punting to a minimum.
“Caleb texted me, saying, ‘Hey, you’re not going to punt too much here,’ which is great,” Taylor said, according to ESPN. “That was pretty funny.” While amused, Taylor acknowledged the NFL’s challenges. “The NFL is going to be a lot different than Iowa,” he added. “I punted nearly 300 times in college. I know it won’t be like that here, but as long as I’m punting balls, I’m good.”
However, Williams’ optimism has not materialized, with Chicago stumbling to a 4-7 record. Taylor has already punted 53 times this season, tied for sixth-most in the league, alongside Tennessee’s Ryan Stonehouse. Cleveland’s Corey Bojorquez leads with 58 punts.
Meanwhile, Lions kicker Jake Bates has been flawless. Entering the Thanksgiving game against Chicago, Bates has made all 16 field goal attempts and converted 42 of 43 extra points. His consistency has been vital for Detroit, now atop the NFC.
Bates’ rise began in the UFL with the Michigan Panthers, where his powerful leg earned attention after hitting field goals from 60, 62, and 64 yards. Before his success, only four NFL kickers had ever made field goals from 60+ yards, including record-holder Justin Tucker’s 66-yard strike.
Detroit signed Bates after a brief stint with Houston, and he has been instrumental in their success. If the Lions’ matchup against the Bears is decided by a Bates field goal, his fairytale continues while Williams’ promise to Taylor becomes a regretful misstep.
