Jake Bates - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Week 1 fantasy kicker rankings: Top streamers, starts High-scoring games are a kicker's best friend in fantasy football, so this week's rankings are led by the Lions' Jake Bates at home vs. the...

9 HOURS AGO • USATODAY.COM

Jake Bates' Week 3 preseason performance was even shakier than initially thought Bates' job isn't in jeopardy, but eyes are turning to him thanks to an infamous KVA for Week 3 of the preseason.

SEPTEMBER 1 • SIDELIONREPORT.COM

Lions can finally correct the kicker problem they ignored all offseason There is now the perfect alternative to Jake Bates on the waiver wire.

AUGUST 31 • DETROITJOCKCITY.COM

Lions could bring in real Jake Bates competition by targeting released Colts kicker Detroit should consider making a move to improve their special teams unit.

AUGUST 30 • SIDELIONREPORT.COM

Dan Campbell Reacts to Jake Bates' Rough Performance Against Colts Do Lions have issue at kicker after Bates' struggles?

AUGUST 30 • SI.COM

Rough performance in preseason finale Bates didn't get a field-goal attempt and went just 1-for-3 on extra-point attempts in Saturday's 25-16 preseason win over the Colts.

Impact The Lions scored four touchdowns on the afternoon but failed on a two-point conversion on one of them. Bates hasn't looked great this preseason and converted a subpar 79.4 percent of his FG attempts in 2025, but as yet there's been no suggestion his spot is in jeopardy. Detroit's high-powered offense offers Bates a reliable floor in terms of PAT volume, but the unit's efficiency also limits his FG volume, and his fantasy ceiling -- he reached double-digit points in just seven of 17 regular-season games last season.

AUGUST 29 • ROTOWIRE

Dobbs makes his case to be Goff's backup by taking Lions on 3 TD drives in 25-16 win over Colts

Josh Dobbs made his case to be Detroit’s top backup quarterback by throwing two touchdown passes and leading the Lions on a third scoring drive to lead the Lions past the Indianapo...

AUGUST 29 • Associated Press

Misses in win Bates converted one of two field goal attempts and both PATs in Saturday's 17-13 preseason win over the Commanders.

Impact Bates missed a 55-yard field goal attempt near the end of the second quarter, but later redeemed himself with a 37-yarder to extend the Lions' one-score lead late in the fourth quarter. The kicker signed his exclusive rights free-agent tender with the Lions in late March, tying him to the team for the 2026 season. For Bates to acquire a larger payday in 2027, he will likely need to mimic his 2024 rookie season. The 27-year-old converted 26 of 29 field goals and 64 of 67 PATs over 17 regular-season games in 2024 compared to 27 of 29 field goals and 54 of 56 PATs in 2025.

AUGUST 22 • ROTOWIRE

Dobbs overcomes two turnovers with long TD run as Lions beat Commanders, 17-13

Joshua Dobbs ran for a 50-yard touchdown and the Detroit Lions held on for a 17-13 preseason win against the Washington Commanders

AUGUST 22 • Associated Press

A small tweak could make a huge difference for Lions' kicker Jake Bates Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates wants to find his 2024 form, and with that in mind a small tweak in his approach could make a big difference...

AUGUST 20 • SIDELIONREPORT.COM

LIONS DAILY: How Jake Bates is trying to be 'kicker that this team deserves' Can Lions survive injury to center Cade Mays?

AUGUST 19 • DETROITLIONS.COM

Joe Burrow starts and backup Joe Flacco throws a TD pass as Bengals beat Lions 16-14

Joe Flacco threw a touchdown pass in relief of Joe Burrow, Evan McPherson kicked three field goals and the Cincinnati Bengals beat the Detroit Lions 16-14 in the preseason opener f...

AUGUST 14 • Associated Press

HIGHLIGHT: Bates drills football for 52-yard FG to end half Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates drills football for 52-yard FG to end half.

AUGUST 14 • DETROITLIONS.COM

Not bringing in kicker competition may come back to bite the Lions Detroit has full faith in Jake Bates despite a disappointing 2025 campaign.

JULY 9 • DETROITJOCKCITY.COM

Jake Bates is turning heads at Lions minicamp after a sophomore slump The Detroit Lions' kicker may have found his groove at the perfect time.

JUNE 19 • SIDELIONREPORT.COM

PHOTOS: Jake Bates' trip to Germany View photos from Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates' trip to Germany.

APRIL 2 • DETROITLIONS.COM

Officially re-signs with Lions Detroit re-signed Bates on Wednesday.

Impact Bates has either inked an new contract with the Lions or officially signed the exclusive rights free-agent tender extended to him by the team early March. In any case, he's positioned to stick with Detroit for the 2026 campaign. Through two season in the NFL, Bates has converted 53 of 63 field-goal attempts (84.1 percent) and 118 of 123 extra-point tries (95.9 percent).

MARCH 25 • ROTOWIRE

Receives ERFA tender The Lions placed an exclusive rights free agent tender on Bates on Wednesday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Impact While Bates wasn't nearly as effective in 2025 as he was as a 2024 rookie, he still converted 27 of 34 field-goal attempts and a league-high 54 PATs on 56 tries. Through two seasons, Bates has made 84 percent of his field-goal tries and 96 percent of his extra points. He figures to be busy again next season in Detroit's high-powered offense.

MARCH 5 • ROTOWIRE

Jake Bates' 2025 sophomore seemed off - a new metric proves that it was Bates finished the year strong, but some stinkers really dragged his value down in 2025.

FEBRUARY 17 • SIDELIONREPORT.COM

Playoffs Showing Lions Have to Take Jake Bates Concerns Seriously Kicker situations around the NFL postseason might have the Detroit Lions feeling different about Jake Bates' future.

JANUARY 14 • DETROITJOCKCITY.COM

Converts 27 FGAs in second season Bates went 27-for-34 on field-goal attempts and made 54 of 56 PATs over 17 games during the regular season.

Impact Bates took step back in his second season in Detroit from a field-goal percentage standpoint, converting 79 percent of his tries after making 90 percent in his rookie campaign. Most notably, the kicker struggled from 50-plus yards, going 4-for-9 on attempts from that range. Bates will enter the offseason as a free agent, but it'd be a surprise if the Lions weren't interested in re-signing him.

JANUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Caleb Williams Breaks Bears Single-Season Passing Record, But Wants 'To Be Better'

Caleb Williams set a new Bears record on Sunday. However, the quarterback was more focused on their loss to the Lions after their regular-se...

JANUARY 5 • FOX SPORTS

Caleb Williams Breaks Bears Single-Season Passing Record, But Wants 'To Be Better'

Amon-Ra St. Brown Endorses Lions' Campbell After LFG Player of the Game Win

After earning Tom Brady's LFG Player of the Game in a Week 18 win over the Bears., Amon-Ra St. Brown followed one of his best games of the s...

JANUARY 5 • FOX SPORTS

Amon-Ra St. Brown Endorses Lions' Campbell After LFG Player of the Game Win

4 Takeaways From the Lions' Win Over the Bears

Playing for pride, the eliminated Lions beat the Bears for the second time this season. Here are our takeaways on both teams.

JANUARY 5 • FOX SPORTS

4 Takeaways From the Lions' Win Over the Bears

Jake Bates drains a 34-yard FG to secure Lions' 19-16 victory over Bears | NFL Highlights

JANUARY 5 • FOX SPORTS

JAKE BATES NEWS

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Dobbs makes his case to be Goff's backup by taking Lions on 3 TD drives in 25-16 win over Colts

Dobbs overcomes two turnovers with long TD run as Lions beat Commanders, 17-13

Joe Burrow starts and backup Joe Flacco throws a TD pass as Bengals beat Lions 16-14

Caleb Williams Breaks Bears Single-Season Passing Record, But Wants 'To Be Better'

Amon-Ra St. Brown Endorses Lions' Campbell After LFG Player of the Game Win

4 Takeaways From the Lions' Win Over the Bears

Jake Bates drains a 34-yard FG to secure Lions' 19-16 victory over Bears | NFL Highlights