It looks like Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates could continue to call Ford Field home, this time in the NFL.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC in Houston, the Lions are expected to sign Bates on Tuesday when UFL players can officially sign with NFL teams.
Bates saw a brief time with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent last season filling in for one game to give the team’s regular kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn a break.
However, it wasn’t until he made his way to the UFL with the Michigan Panthers that he began to make a name for himself blasting long-distance field goals to the tune of 64 yards against the St. Louis Battlehawks and 62 yards against the Birmingham Stallions. In addition to the longevity, Bates was also fairly consistent with field goals hitting 15 of 18 including three field goals from beyond 60 yards.
All of this in a season where Bates became the regular place kicker on a team for the first time in his career.
If Bates does sign with the Lions, Detroit will have three kickers on their 90-man roster after a spot opened up with the injury designation to CB Craig James. Michael Badgley, the holdover from last season, is reportedly showing increased leg strength and accuracy while undrafted rookie James Turner from Michigan has demonstrated a huge leg connecting on kicks with a range close to 70 yards.
Of course, practice and in Bates’ case the UFL is a long way from the pressures of kicking in an NFL game.
