After what was no doubt an up-and-down summer for kicker Jake Bates, one has to wonder if the Detroit Lions are going to bring in another kicker on the practice squad.
Bates did enough to secure the job after a preseason that saw him go 6-for-7 on field goals and display his monster leg, but he also saw struggles during training camp and missed both a 30-yard field goal and an extra point in the preseason.
We've suggested on a few occasions that the Lions should bring in another option on the practice squad just in case, and that's something general manager Brad Holmes admitted the team is interested in doing at some point.
That said, Holmes praised Bates for being "wired right" for his ability to bounce back from misses and does not regret the team not bringing in competition for the kicker in the wake of the Michael Badgley injury.
Holmes does admit that they are looking to add a veteran kicker to the practice squad.
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) August 29, 2024
"As much as we as humans crave certainty... there's excitement about the unknown," Holmes said of Bates, per Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News. "That's really the intrigue... We learned early on that he's wired right."
MORE: Kickers Lions should target for practice squad
There is no question that Bates is an intriguing player thanks to his seemingly limitless range. He can truly be a weapon.
But the Lions still need to protect themselves in the event he doesn't work out, which is certainly possible considering his inexperience. Detroit simply can't afford to have a poor kicker situation during a season in which the team has legitimate Super Bowl aspirations.
Thankfully, the Lions realize this and look set to explore their options as they continue to put together their practice squad, which still has a few open spots.
