The Lions kicker of the future might already be playing in Detroit for the Michigan Panthers
The Detroit Lions brought back Michael Badgley on a one-year deal last month. The early consensus might have been that the Lions were set with kicker then, but they have been keeping their eyes out ever since. They might not have to look too far. Their kicker of the future might already be playing in […]
The Detroit Lions brought back Michael Badgley on a one-year deal last month. The early consensus might have been that the Lions were set with kicker then, but they have been keeping their eyes out ever since. They might not have to look too far. Their kicker of the future might already be playing in the building.
Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates set the UFL and football media on fire on Saturday night when he nailed a game winning 64-yard kick to beat the St. Louis Battlehawks at Ford Field.
That is the second longest kick in Ford Field history. Second only to Ravens kicker Justin Tucker who nailed an NFL record 66-yarder there in 2021. I'm sorry for bringing that up. The previous NFL record was 64-yards.
The Lions need a guy with a leg like that. They could have used him in the NFC Championship game when the Lions decided to go with fourth down attempts instead of risking kicks with Badgley.
Bates played at Arkansas in college and he did get a chance with the Houston Texans at camp last season. The Texans ultimately decided to stick with their long time kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn instead. Bates didn't get a shot anywhere else. The Lions should give him that shot.
Detroit already does have a history of trying out players from the other leagues and they've even brought in some Michigan Panthers in the past. I think there's a solid shot we see Bates in Allen Park this August.
Update: The Lions have reportedly reached out to Bates since Saturday.
The Lions are reportedly expected to sign Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates
Michigan Panthers kicker Jake Bates had the football world talking when he nailed a 64-yard game winning field goal in the closing seconds of the Panthers win over the St. Louis Battlehawks a few months back. Pairing him with the Lions made a ton of sense at the time since they had been doing their due […]
