All-UFL kicker Jake Bates of the Michigan Panthers made a name for himself this season at Ford Field. He's eyeing an encore with the Lions.
The Lions are expected to sign Bates next week when the acquisition can become official, according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson. They beat out the Packers and Ravens, among other teams, for Bates' sought-after services after hosting him for a visit this week.
A former college soccer player who wound up transferring to be a kicker at Arkansas, Bates showcased his leg this season with the Panthers. He drilled six field goals from 50-plus yards and three from 60-plus in just 10 games, going 17-for-22 overall.
That included a game-winning 64-yarder at Ford Field that harkened back to Justin Tucker's record-setting 66-yarder that sunk the Lions in 2021 -- the only recorded field goal longer than Bates' in pro football history.
The Lions have shuffled through kickers for three seasons under Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell after letting Matt Prater walk as a free agent. It's been a consistent soft spot of the roster, most notably last season when Detroit attempted the fewest field goals in the NFL, including just five from 40-plus yards and three from 50-plus
Their 21 total attempts were the fewest by any team since the NFL added a 17th game to the schedule.
The Lions' lack of faith in their kicking game may have cost them in the NFC title game when Campbell left the offense on the field on 4th and 3 midway through the fourth quarter instead of trusting Michael Badgley to hit a game-tying 48-yard field goal. The Lions failed to convert and the 49ers made it a two-score game on the next drive.
Badgley, who's 20-for-24 on field goals across two seasons in Detroit, is the early leader in the Lions' kicking competition this season, with undrafted rookie and Michigan product James Turner also in the mix.
Bates, who had a brief stint with the Texans last summer but failed to make the team, will add a very strong leg to the fray in camp.
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