Commanders Lose Kicker Target To Lions

The Washington Commanders' kicker situation has been in flux over the past few weeks, and one potential answer is now off the table.

Michigan Panthers All-UFL kicker Jake Bates, who the Commanders recently brought in for a visit, is instead opting to stay local and sign with the Detroit Lions, NFL insider Aaron Wilson reports. Bates visited the Commanders, Lions and the Green Bay Packers, and had interest from three other teams as well.

Commanders Lose Kicker Target To Lions

Bates, 24, became a breakout star during the inaugural UFL season, specifically when he drilled a game-winning 64-yard field goal in the season-opener against the St. Louis Battlehawks. That's the second-longest made field goal in professional football history, only behind a 66-yarder by Baltimore Ravens star Justin Tucker against the Lions in 2021. Coincidentally, both kicks were game-winners at Ford Field in Detroit.

Most impressive is the fact that this was Bates' first time ever handling field goal duties, as he was a kickoff specialist in college.

Bates would go on to make 17 of 22 field goals on the season, including two more from 60+ yards away, to make the inaugural All-UFL team.

Alongside Bates, the Commanders also brought in fellow UFL kickers Andre Szmyt of the Battlehawks and Matthew McCrane of the DC Defenders. The team wants to add some competition for the recently-signed Ramiz Ahmed, whom Washington signed after releasing Brandon McManus due to sexual assault allegations.