On the heels of a Friday night report it was expected to happen, the Detroit Lions have indeed signed UFL kicker Jake Bates.

The Detroit Lions were among the clubs interested in kicker Jake Bates, which was not surprising given that the Michigan Panthers’ UFL season concluded last weekend. He received a visit on Tuesday, and Aaron Wilson of Houston’s KPRC reported on Friday night that the Lions were expected to sign him.

It’s said a deal is done. The Lions and Bates have reached an agreement on a two-year contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Saturday morning, citing Bates’ agency. The financial details are unknown, and it’s important to remember that UFL players cannot formally sign with NFL teams until Tuesday.

On the surface, however, the duration is two years.
Wilson claimed that Bates had also visited the Packers and Commander and that three other NFL teams were interested in him.

Naturally, Bates joins undrafted rookie James Turner and Michael Badgley as the third kicker on the Lions’ roster. According to all accounts, Turner had an advantage over Badgley at the required minicamp. However, he will need to maintain that advantage throughout training camp in order to unseat the incumbent, whom the Lions haven’t showed much interest in replacing.

It doesn’t appear likely that Bates will be selected to start for the Lions. However, they are making every effort to give him a chance, ideally without any predetermined assumptions that would only serve to turn them back on Badgley after providing a thin layer of competition.