Allen Park — Jake Bates was eight years previous when Matt Prater made his NFL debut. By the time Bates started enjoying school soccer at Central Arkansas in 2017, Prater was within the thick of his seven-season kicking tenure with the Detroit Lions.
Now in his second NFL season, Bates is making an attempt to finish Detroit's years of wandering the kicker desert since Prater left to signal with the Arizona Cardinals in March 2021. From Riley Patterson to Ryan Santoso, the Lions have had 10 gamers try a area aim since shifting on from Prater. It's one of many few critiques of the present regime, as head coach Dan Campbell and normal supervisor Brad Holmes have but to discover a constant reply on the place.
Prater's first 5 seasons in Detroit noticed him make higher than 86% of his field-goal makes an attempt, and he missed simply six further factors. His final season with the Lions left one thing to be desired — a 75% success price on area targets and three misdirected further factors — however he is since rebounded with the Cardinals and is again to being one of many NFL's extra constant kickers.
Detroit will see Prater, 40, this Sunday, when the Lions journey to Glendale for a matchup with the Cardinals. For Bates, it will function a chance to be round considered one of his childhood position fashions.
But it will not be the primary time the 2 have crossed paths.
“Once I started getting serious into kicking, definitely he was always one of the top guys (I admired),” Bates stated Wednesday. “Definitely one of the top guys. I got to meet him this offseason, actually, in California and pick his brain a little bit. He's super cool. He's obviously an unbelievable talent. It was fun to see him kick.”
Bates did not begin enjoying collegiate soccer till he transferred in 2020 to Texas State, the place he by no means tried a area aim however was accountable for kickoffs. Bates, who transferred to Arkansas after his time with the Bobcats, held the identical position with the Razorbacks. Along with Georgia's Jack Podlesny, Bates was tabbed as an All-SEC kickoff specialist in 2022.
Following a short stint with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Bates signed with the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League. He made a reputation for himself within the season opener, connecting on a game-winning 64-yard area aim towards the St. Louis Battlehawks. He added two extra makes from over 60 yards and completed his lone season within the league 17-for-22.
Bates signed with Detroit in June. When kicker Michael Badgley went down as a consequence of a season-ending damage earlier this offseason, Bates was the presumed favourite. The Lions have caught with him by the ups and downs — Bates was a blended bag in coaching camp — and have been rewarded for it. The younger kicker hasn't needed to try something from greater than 35 yards but, however he is 5-for-5 on area targets and 3-for-3 on further factors.
“He was super open, which was awesome,” Bates stated of his assembly with Prater. “He came up to me and was like, ‘Hey man, I've heard about your story. That's so cool.' I was like, dang, he's Matt Prater. He doesn't have to do that. He doesn't have to come say hi to me. Super cool dude.”
Bates' inquiries to Prater principally associated to longevity, as Prater is in his 18th season. That long term, coupled along with his ability set, is why Prater ranks No. 12 on the all-time record for made area targets and is 31 makes away from breaking into the highest 10.
If the Lions are fortunate, Bates will develop into one thing related and put an finish to their years-long seek for a Prater substitute.
“Kind of how to take care of your body, stuff like that,” Bates stated of his dialog with Prater. “He helped a lot with what I felt like I wanted to ask. … I'm excited to see him. Hopefully, he remembers me. Definitely a guy that I've looked up to for quite a few years now.”
rsilva@detroitnews.com
@rich_silva18
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