Dan Campbell’s lack of confidence in his kicker likely cost the Detroit Lions a chance to win last season’s NFC Championship Game. The team is looking to one of this year’s UFL sensations to potentially solve that problem.
The Lions signed Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates to a two-year contract. Bates Agent reported ESPN’s Adam Schefter of the signing after his client also visited the Washington Commanders and Green Bay Packers. The news of Bates heading to Detroit was first reported by Aaron Wilson of Houston’s KPRC-TV.
Bates, 24, hit field goals of 64 and 62 yards during the season for the Panthers. Matt Prater of the Arizona Cardinals was the only NFL kicker to hit a 62-yarder last season, doing so in the Week 3 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. (Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker holds the NFL record for a 66-yard field goal made against the Lions in 2021.)
He previously signed free agent deals with the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, but was released by both teams.
In the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers, Campbell twice opted to go for it on fourth down in the second half rather than let kicker Michael Badgely attempt field goals from 46 and 48 yards. Detroit didn’t convert on either attempt and passing a possible six points could have been the difference in the 34-31 loss.
The Lions already had two kickers on the roster in Badgely and rookie free agent James Turner. Badgely was 4-for-4 on field goals and 13-for-15 on extra points, but his biggest feat was 41 yards. He joined Detroit when Riley Patterson was released after 13 games.
Despite Bates’ great leg, he wasn’t the most accurate kicker, converting 77% (17 of 22) of his goals for the Panthers. However, all five of his misses were from 50 yards or more. It’s possible Detroit can keep him for kickoffs and field goal attempts over 50 yards. But roster spots are scarce and the Lions may not prefer to use two of them on placekickers.
Bates was a starting specialist in college, playing at Arkansas, Texas State and Central Arkansas (where he also played football). His field goals from over 60 yards early in the UFL season were the first kicks he had taken in a game since high school.
