The Detroit Lions signed a UFL kicking sensation who certainly impressed NFL fans.
It was reported that the Detroit Lions signed the kicker Jake Bates to a two-year contract.
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The report on Bates arrived on Saturday morning in ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The 24-year-old visited the Lions, Green Bay Packers and Washington Commanders before making his decision.
Bates will stay in the Great Lakes State while playing with the Michigan Panthers in the UFL this season.
He was second in the league this season with 17 goals.
NFL fans think the Lions, who lost to the San Francisco 49ers at NFC Championship last season, it won gold with the addition of Bates.
“A good hire doesn’t lie,” said one.
“The Lions finally have a shot. It’s over for the rest of the league,” commented another.
“He will do great with the Lions,” wrote a third.
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Bates converted three field goals of 60 yards or longer while with the Panthers.
One of the field goals was a 64-yarder.
Bates will be familiar with the Lions Ford Field Stadium when he scored all three of his field goals from 60+ yards there.
However, he made just 17 of 22 field goals, representing an average success rate of 77.3 percent.
Former football player, Bates did not start playing soccer until the last year of high school.
He was a starting specialist in college at Texas State and Arkansas.
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Bates was named to the first-team All-SEC team in 2002 and went undrafted in 2023.
He will join a Lions team that has two kickers on the roster – Michael Badgley and James Turner.
Badgley played in seven games with the Lions last season, making 4 of 4 field goals and 24 of 26 on extra points.
The 28-year-old made all five of his shots during the playoffs.
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