John Bates - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Avoids injury report Wednesday Bates (hamstring) is not listed on the injury report for Wednesday's practice.

Impact Despite dealing with a hamstring issue throughout the preseason, Bates is not listed on Wednesday's injury report ahead of the Week 1 meeting with the Eagles. The 28-year-old has spent his entire career with the Commanders, most recently catching 11 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown in 15 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Commanders to play starters in preseason game vs. Detroit, unsure about Jayden Daniels

Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn revealed that “a good amount of starters” will play during Saturday’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions

AUGUST 20 • Associated Press

Commanders rookie Sonny Styles is eager for his next opportunity after a short preseason debut

Sonny Styles played just one drive during his NFL preseason debut, but it was more than enough for the Washington Commanders rookie linebacker to self-critique his performance

AUGUST 19 • Associated Press

Set to practice Tuesday Bates (hamstring) is set to begin practicing Tuesday, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.

Impact Bates suffered a hamstring injury in late July and has not practiced since the issue developed. The tight end is recovering well and is set to see at least a limited practice session Tuesday. While Bates has been absent, Ben Sinnott has been expanding his route tree in the hopes of obtaining the No. 2 tight end role. Bates will need to prove he can maintain his position behind Chig Okonkwo as he works his way back throughout the remainder of the preseason.

AUGUST 16 • ROTOWIRE

Commanders QB Marcus Mariota has a sprained MCL in his right knee

Washington Commanders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee, coach Dan Quinn confirmed

AUGUST 16 • Associated Press

Sidelined by hamstring injury Bates will miss "a couple of weeks" due to a hamstring injury, Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C. reports.

Impact Bates hurt his hamstring during practice Thursday and is going to miss a significant portion of training camp as a result. The third-year tight end is slated to work behind Chig Okonkwo this season, but Bates' injury could open the door for Ben Sinnott to make a push for the No. 2 role at the position.

AUGUST 2 • ROTOWIRE

John Bates' Injury Opens the Door for Ben Sinnott at Commanders Camp Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn announced Saturday that tight end John Bates strained his hamstring in Thursday's practice and wi...

AUGUST 1 • SI.COM

Commanders Roster Ranking No. 20: John Bates Has Rare Value as Blocking Tight End John Bates is not No. 20 on this roster ranking because he is one of Washington’s most dangerous receiving threats. He lands here because he...

JUNE 27 • SI.COM

Eagles' backup plan backfires with 24-17 loss to Commanders that costs them shot at NFC's No. 2 seed

The Eagles’ backup plan backfired, and the Super Bowl champions will start their postseason defense of the title as the No. 3 seed in the NFC

JANUARY 5 • Associated Press

Josh Johnson's first TD pass since '21 goes to John Bates Washington Commanders quarterback Josh Johnson rolls to his right off of play action and finds tight end John Bates in the back of the end z...

JANUARY 5 • COMMANDERS.COM

Held without a catch vs. Cowboys Bates was not targeted during Thursday's 30-23 loss to Dallas.

Impact Bates played 43 percent of offensive snaps but didn't draw a single target from fill-in quarterback Josh Johnson, while Ben Sinnott (61 percent of snaps) secured three of four looks for 29 yards. Expect Bates to again contribute as the No. 2 tight end behind Sinnott during Washington's regular-season finale against the Eagles in Week 18.

DECEMBER 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Logs one catch in Week 15 win Bates caught his lone target for 19 yards during the Commanders' 29-21 win over the Giants on Sunday.

Impact Bates hauled in a 19-yard pass from Marcus Mariota early in the second quarter, but the fifth-year tight end wasn't targeted again for the rest of the game. Bates was named the starter for Sunday's NFC East clash one week after Zach Ertz sustained a season-ending torn ACL, though the former will likely operate in a timeshare with Ben Sinnott for the rest of 2025. Next up for Bates and the Commanders is a Week 16 home tilt against the Eagles on Saturday.

DECEMBER 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Set for larger role sans Ertz Bates did not record a target during the Commanders' 31-0 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.

Impact Bates failed to see a target from a Commanders QB for the fifth time this season (and second time in Washington's last three games). However, with Zach Ertz out for the rest of season due to a torn ACL, Bates and Ben Sinnott are both poised for expanded roles on offense over the final four games of the regular season, starting with this Sunday's NFC East clash against the Giants.

DECEMBER 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Two catches vs. Denver Bates caught both of his targets for nine yards in Sunday night's 27-26 overtime loss to the Broncos.

Impact Even with Zach Ertz's monster performance (10-106-0), Bates was still involved in the Commanders' passing attack during Sunday night's loss. The Boise State product has appeared in 10 games this season, catching eight of 12 targets for 71 yards. He's likely to remain a minimal portion of Washington's offensive game plan in the Week 14 matchup against the Vikings.

DECEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Inside the locker room | TE John Bates JOHN%20BATES%20SCRUM%2011.9.mp4

NOVEMBER 10, 2025 • COMMANDERS.COM

Logs 20 yards in blowout loss Bates caught two of four targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 38-14 loss to the Seahawks.

Impact The Boise State product tallied season-highs in targets and receptions during Sunday's loss, finishing with the fourth-most receiving yards on the Commanders. Bates has now recorded five catches for 56 yards through seven appearances in 2025. He's likely to remain Washington's No. 2 tight end and continue playing behind Zach Ertz heading into the Week 10 matchup against the Lions.

NOVEMBER 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared to play vs. Seattle Bates (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.

Impact Bates was limited in the final two practices of Week 9 prep due to an ankle injury, but he's been cleared to play Sunday night after going through pregame warmups. Bates and Ben Sinnott will provide depth at tight end behind Zach Ertz.

NOVEMBER 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Nursing ankle injury Bates (ankle) was a limited participant in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Bates appeared on Thursday's injury report due to an ankle injury, which limited his participation in Friday's session. He's questionable to play Sunday and his status may not be known until he goes through pregame warmups. With Colson Yankoff (hamstring) already ruled out for Week 9, the Commanders may elevate Lawrence Cager from the practice squad to provide tight end depth behind Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott in the event that Bates is not cleared to play.

OCTOBER 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Notches longest catch of season Bates recorded a 22-yard reception on his lone target in Monday's 28-7 loss to the Chiefs.

Impact Bates' 22-yard catch and run in the second quarter was his longest gain since the 2023 campaign and tied for the third-biggest play of the night for a sputtering Commanders offense that finished with a season-low scoring total. The 27-year-old played 29 of the Commanders' 53 snaps on offense and has now cleared 50 percent snap shares in two straight weeks, but he'll continue to function mainly as a blocker while Zach Ertz serves as the team's top pass-catching tight end.

OCTOBER 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Logs full practice Friday Bates (shoulder) was a full participant in Friday's practice.

Impact Bates likely tweaked his shoulder during the Commanders' Week 5 win over the Chargers. He opened the week as a limited practice participant Thursday, but his ability to participate without restrictions Friday indicates that he should be good to go against the Bears on Monday. Bates played 41 snaps (30 on offense, 11 on special teams) and his first catch of the regular season for nine yards.

OCTOBER 10, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Pops up as limited Thursday Bates (shoulder) was limited in Thursday's practice.

Impact It's a new injury for the Commanders' tight end after he recently dealt with a groin issue that caused him to miss Weeks 3 and 4 before returning to the lineup last Sunday against the Chargers. When healthy, Bates has been playing roughly 50 percent of the offensive snaps, but he has just one catch for nine yards on the season.

OCTOBER 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

All set for Week 5 Bates (groin) was a full participant at practice Wednesday.

Impact Bates has been sidelined for each of the team's last two games due to a groin injury, but he now appears to be ready to return to action in Week 5. The 27-year-old will be back in his role as a top reserve option behind Zach Ertz at tight end versus the Chargers on Sunday.

OCTOBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Commanders are still waiting for Daniels and McLaurin to return and need to fix their defense

Missing the injured Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin is hardly ideal for the Washington Commanders’ offense, yet the most glaring issue at the moment is their defense

SEPTEMBER 29, 2025 • Associated Press

Commanders stars Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin out against the Falcons with injuries

The Washington Commanders will face the Atlanta Falcons without quarterback Jayden Daniels and wide receiver Terry McLaurin

SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 • Associated Press

Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin Ruled Out of Commanders vs. Falcons in Week 4

The Washington Commanders will be without Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin and more in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 • FOX SPORTS

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