Report: Detroit Lions expected to sign UFL kicker Jake Bates

Report: Detroit Lions expected to sign UFL kicker Jake Bates

According to a report from NFL insider Aaron Wilson, the Detroit Lions are expected to sign Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates. Per Wilson, the signing won’t become official until Tuesday.

Bates quickly became one of the most fascinating stories in the UFL this season. After not kicking a single field goal in college—serving as the kickoff specialist—Bates came into the UFL as the Panthers’ primary kicker and immediately became a sensation. In the season opener, Bates showed off his leg strength and clutchness by booting a 64-yard field goal to win the game. As an added bonus for the Lions, Bates’ home field was the same as theirs: Ford Field.

For the rest of the season, Bates continued to display incredible leg strength and solid accuracy. He would finish the regular season 17-of-22 on field goals with only one of those five misses coming short of 50 yards. He was named to the All-UFL team, as well.

The Lions currently have two kickers on their roster: incumbent kicker Michael Badgley and undrafted rookie James Turner. Badgley served as the team’s kicker both in 2022 and the back half of the 2023 season, making 24-of-28 kicks over that time. However, he has struggled to show consistent power in his kick game, and hasn’t converted a field goal longer than 54 yards since his rookie season in 2018. Turner showed promise in OTAs this spring with a very strong leg, but with such limited experience, it would be an uphill climb for him to win out the kicker job.

At this point, it’s unclear if the Lions will carry three kickers into training camp or if Badgley or Turner will be cut. Detroit did have one open roster spot available after waiving/injured cornerback Craig James earlier this week.