Senior News Writer
Jake Bates went from brick salesman to game-winner.
The Detroit Lions’ big-legged kicker, who took a job with Acme Brick in Northwest Houston before igniting his football career in the spring, nailed 58- and 52-yard field goals to culminate a ridiculous 26-23 comeback against the Texans.
“I think it almost feels too scripted, it’s too good to be true,” Bates said, per the Houston Chronicle.
Bates’ NFL career might also be a pitch laughed at by Hollywood producers.
The Houston-area native grew up playing soccer and joined the football team as a high school senior. He played college soccer at Central Arkansas, then walked on as a kickoff specialist at Texas State, which he parlayed into a similar gig at Arkansas. He never attempted a field goal in college but earned an invite to Texans training camp last year. After eventually getting cut, he took a job as a brick salesman. Then, in December 2023, he tried out for the fledgling United Football League, signing with the Michigan Panthers. There, he dropped bombs, including multiple kicks from 60-plus yards.
Following the spring UFL season, Bates signed with Detroit. It was clear the 25-year-old had a big leg. The question was whether he had the mettle on a big stage. Sneaking two massive kicks inside each upright with the game on the line Sunday answered those questions.
“I’ve never been hoisted like that,” Bates said, via the team website. “That was pretty cool just to see the sidelines come to embrace me and stuff was a cool moment.”
Coach Dan Campbell never wavered on his confidence in the rookie kicker, noting that Bates made a similar field goal in practice on Thursday.
“It was the first thing I thought of when I was looking at him … and I just felt good about it,” Campbell said, recalling Thursday’s practice. “I just felt like he’s going to make it and he did. He stepped up and nailed it.”
Sunday night on prime time was Bates’ second game-winning field goal of the season. His 58-yarder to tie things up was tied for the third-longest by a Lions player since at least 1960. Bates has made all 14 of his field goal attempts in nine games this season, including three of 50-plus, and 32 of 33 PATs.
Bates’ bombs came after Detroit overcame five Jared Goff interceptions, turning a dismal 23-7 halftime deficit into an improbable win.
“I just don’t deserve this,” Bates said. “I was a soccer player growing up. I idolized football players in the NFL. Just to be here is surreal. I’m still finding myself kind of pinching myself.”
The official inactives for Week 10 Monday Night Football: Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins Pro Bowl wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) will play in Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, NFL Network’s Cam Wolfe reported.
New York Giants coach Brian Daboll was noncommittal about Daniel Jones’ future as his starting quarterback when asked about the position on Monday, just 24 hours after a loss to the Carolina Panthers in Germany that dropped them to 2-8 on the season.
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus told reporters Monday that “there will be changes” following Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, but he’s still in the evaluation process of making a decision on the impending adjustment.
NFL.com keeps you up to date with all of the latest league news from around the NFL. Visit NFL.com’s transaction hub for a daily breakdown.
In honor of Veterans Day, NFL players and teams paid homage to America’s servicemen and women.
Christian McCaffrey’s return to the lineup didn’t come with big numbers, but the star running back helped steady the San Francisco 49ers offense in Sunday’s 23-20 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Justin Herbert continues to ascend under Jim Harbaugh’s tutelage. The big-armed quarterback isn’t putting up gaudy numbers, but he’s making the gritty plays to win games, a reverse of what Los Angeles Chargers fans are used to seeing from their club.
Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons, who returned to action in Sunday’s 34-6 loss to the Eagles, said he’s not as worried about Mike McCarthy’s future as much as he is of guard Zack Martin and other players during a trying 3-6 season in Dallas.
After a sideline dustup initiated by Deebo Samuel, 49ers kicker Jake Moody rebounded from three misses to convert the game-winner on Sunday. As for the skirmish, the Niners seem to be moving on.
The New Orleans Saints snapped a seven-game skid in Darren Rizzi’s debut as interim head coach, topping the division-rival Atlanta Falcons, 20-17, on Sunday.
