2025 Kicking Stats
FGM
27
FGA
34
FG%
0.8
50+
4
XP
54
2026 Projections
Signed a one-year contract with the Lions in March of 2026.
Receives ERFA tender
The Lions placed an exclusive rights free-agent tender on Bates on Wednesday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
ANALYSIS
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.
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.
NFL Stats
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Fantasy Stats
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2025 NFL Game Log
2025
2024
2025 NFL Game Log
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2025
2024
Bates didn't earn an NFL gig in 2023, after going undrafted and signing with the Texans, but there was renewed interest last spring once he'd kicked three field goals of 60-plus yards in the UFL. He won the job in Detroit and held it down all year, finishing seventh among kickers in fantasy points behind a league-high 67 PATs (64 converted). Bates also performed well on field goals, missing just three, though his 29 attempts tied for 21st, lagging behind other kickers due to Detroit's aggressive approach on fourth down and excellent efficiency at converting scoring chances into TDs. Even if both those factors are unchanged under new offensive coordinator John Morton, it's a relatively stable situation that ensures Bates will have enough PATs to stay fantasy relevant.
More Fantasy News
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 2025 regular season.
ANALYSIS
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Successful on lone FG try Week 17
Bates made his only field-goal attempt and his only extra-point try in Thursday's Christmas Day loss to Minnesota.
ANALYSIS
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Makes all four kicks in loss
Bates made his lone field-goal attempt and all three PATs in Sunday's 29-24 loss to the Steelers.
ANALYSIS
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Misses field goal in loss
Bates went 2-of-3 on field-goal tries and 4-of-4 on extra-point attempts in Sunday's 41-34 loss to the Rams.
ANALYSIS
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Productive night in TNF win
Bates went 3-of-4 on field-goal attempts and 5-for-5 on extra-point tries in Thursday's 44-30 win over the Cowboys.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Atop depth chart after Badgley hurt
Bates is the only healthy kicker remaining for the Lions, as Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Michael Badgley suffered a season-ending hamstring injury during Thursday's practice.
ANALYSIS
Bates had been slated to compete with Badgley to be Detroit's kicker in 2024, but Badgley will miss the entire campaign, leaving Bates as the favorite to start by default. After showing off his big leg by making six field goals of 50-plus yards in the UFL, Bates saw his chances of securing a spot on Detroit's roster get a boost due to Badgley's injury, though the Lions are expected to bring in another kicker to compete with Bates. Per Field Yates of ESPN, the Lions worked out kickers Matt Ammendola, Lucas Havrisik, Matthew McCrane and Andre Szmyt on Friday.
Bates had been slated to compete with Badgley to be Detroit's kicker in 2024, but Badgley will miss the entire campaign, leaving Bates as the favorite to start by default. After showing off his big leg by making six field goals of 50-plus yards in the UFL, Bates saw his chances of securing a spot on Detroit's roster get a boost due to Badgley's injury, though the Lions are expected to bring in another kicker to compete with Bates. Per Field Yates of ESPN, the Lions worked out kickers Matt Ammendola, Lucas Havrisik, Matthew McCrane and Andre Szmyt on Friday.