Jake Bates is 4 for 6 on field goals this season after missing a 67-yarder wide left against the Ravens.
When Jake Bates lined up for a record-setting 67-yard field goal try just before halftime in the Detroit Lions' 38-30 win over the Baltimore Ravens, it was nothing Lions coach Dan Campbell hadn't seen before.
Campbell said Tuesday, Sept. 23, he's seen Bates, the Lions' second-year kicker, make longer field goals in practice than the 67-yarder he attempted Monday.
"Yeah, over that," Campbell said.
Bates missed his kick wide left, but it appeared to have enough distance that it would have broken ex-Ravens kicker Justin Tucker's NFL-record 66-yarder had it stayed straight.
Tucker made his kick on Sept. 26, 2021, against the Lions at Ford Field. The kicked bounced off the crossbar and gave the Ravens a 19-17 victory as time expired in Campbell's third game as Lions coach.
Though Bates missed his try Monday, Campbell said he "appreciated the fact that he gave it a go." Bates is now 4-for-6 on field goals this year with a long of 45 yards.
"I thought he gave it a fair shot," Campbell said. "He went up there and it was a little bit off, but I appreciate that. We’re going to keep doing that, too. He’ll make those."
Vaki update
Campbell said he's not sure yet if special teams standout Sione Vaki will miss time with the groin injury he suffered covering a punt in Monday's first half.
Vaki, who had a tackle on the Lions' first punt against the Ravens, did not play in the season's first two games because of a training camp hamstring injury and was limited to seven snaps - all on special teams - against the Ravens.
"We'll know more in a day or two here," Campbell said. "He got his groin a little bit. I don't know how bad it is really."
Campbell said cornerback D.J. Reed, who sat out the final few defensive plays against the Ravens, is fine.
Lions host defensive end
The Lions hosted defensive end Quinton Jefferson on a free agent visit, according to Tuesday's transaction report. Jefferson has 28.5 career sacks in nine NFL seasons. He played in seven games for the Buffalo Bills and five for the Cleveland Browns last season.
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dan Campbell: Lions' Jake Bates will get more tries at record field goal
Category: Football
