John Bates - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Ready to go for SNF Bates (shoulder) is active for Sunday night's matchup with the Eagles.

Impact Bates was dealing with a shoulder injury throughout the week, but he'll ultimately be able to give it a go for Sunday Night Football. He'll operate as a depth option behind Chig Okonkwo and Ben Sinnott at tight end versus Philadelphia.

NOVEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Questionable for SNF Bates (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles.

Impact Bates missed each of the first two practices of Week 8 prep while tending to a shoulder injury, but he was on the field with a non-contact jersey Friday as a limited participant, per Ben Standig of The Team 980 Washington D.C.. Colson Yankoff and Ben Sinnott would both be in line for more offensive snaps if Bates is not cleared to play in Sunday's NFC East tilt.

OCTOBER 30 • ROTOWIRE

Misses another practice due to shoulder Bates was a non-participant in Thursday's practice due to a shoulder injury.

Impact Bates has been a spectator for the Commanders' first two Week 8 practices and will need to get back on the field in some capacity to put himself in position to play Sunday against the Eagles. The sixth-year tight end has played at least 30 percent of the offensive snaps in each of the Commanders' first six games, mainly serving as a blocking specialist while recording five receptions for 27 yards on six targets.

OCTOBER 29 • ROTOWIRE

Commanders are feeling urgency to play a complete game as they enter an important stretch

The Commanders have played six games so far this year

OCTOBER 29 • Associated Press

Here's how both the Giants and the Commanders turned a likely victory into a tie

With the game tied at 27, both the Washington Commanders and New York Giants had chances to run the clock down and kick a routine field goal to win in overtime

OCTOBER 11 • Associated Press

John Bates carries Commanders' best hope of surviving Seahawks' blitz barrage John Bates' throwback skills are the Commanders' secret weapon.

SEPTEMBER 27 • RIGGOSRAG.COM

No targets in loss Bates played 22 offensive snaps and 14 special-teams snaps in Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Cowboys.

Impact Bates played 22 of the Commanders' 71 offensive snaps in his start. The tight end was primarily used as a blocker for the team's run game but did not steal any targets from Ben Sinnott in the effort.

SEPTEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Slated for TE1 duties Week 2 Bates should take on an elevated role against the Cowboys on Sunday after Chig Okonkwo was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.

Impact Bates has primarily been utilized as a run blocker during his NFL career, though he did come up with two catches (on three targets) for 13 yards during the Commanders' 24-22 loss to the Eagles in Week 1. Bates should see an uptick in offensive snaps and targets from Jayden Daniels due to Okonkwo's absence, with Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff also in the mix for elevated roles.

SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Two catches in loss Bates caught two of three targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Eagles.

Impact Bates started along with Chig Okonkwo at tight end, and he garnered more than two targets in a regular-season game for the first time since Week 9 of the 2025 campaign. Bates was on the field for 34 of the team's 70 total offensive snaps while also logging 15 more snaps on special teams.

SEPTEMBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Stefon Diggs hugs the goalpost and gets flagged for costly penalty in Commanders' loss to Eagles

Stefon Diggs celebrated his first touchdown with the Washington Commanders with a hug of the goalpost

SEPTEMBER 14 • Associated Press

Jalen Hurts throws 3 TD passes and Eagles stuff Commanders' late 2-point try for 24-22 win

Jalen Hurts threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns, and the Eagles’ Moro Ojomo stuffed the Commanders’ attempt at a tying 2-point conversion with 1:01 remaining as Philadelphia s...

SEPTEMBER 13 • Associated Press

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.

SEPTEMBER 9 • 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

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