While the Cincinnati Bengals applied the franchise tag to safety Jessie Bates III in March, he’d been absent from training camp. Even before the franchise tag was used, Bates made it known that it was not his desired option. But on Tuesday morning, the Bengals got some welcome news. With less than a week to go before the preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams, Bates is returning to the team.
Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported that Bates returned to the Bengals on Tuesday.
Breaking news: #Bengals safety Jessie Bates, after not reporting for training camp at the start due to failed contract negotiations, is back in the team building, a source tells me
This comes a day before the team starts practices against the Rams. @Enquirer
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) August 23, 2022
This is welcome news for the Bengals and their fans. Bates has been a fixture on Cincinnati’s defense since he was drafted in 2018. Bates started all 16 games of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 seasons. While he missed two games in 2021, he started the other 15 and all four of the postseason games for the Bengals.
The NFL world reacted strongly to the news that Bates was back in camp.
With the way Dax Hill has played this preseason and Jessie Bates returning, the Bengals safety trio is going to be their second strongest position this year.
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) August 23, 2022
Good news for Bengals fans. Jessie Bates was a spark last year and should play for $13 million this year. Who Dey! #Bengals https://t.co/lvUIPLN71f
— Alex Triantafilou (@ChairmanAlex) August 23, 2022
Bengals S Jessie Bates stayed in touch with his coaches, they knew he'd return with plenty of time to ramp up for the season. In the meantime, Dax Hill has repped with the 1s at FS, built his versatility up (he played nickel at Michigan).
Should be easy assimilating Bates back.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) August 23, 2022
Jessie Bates is the heart and soul of the #Bengals defense but remains underrated among most NFL fans.
He was the one who sent Cincy to the Super Bowl last season with an overtime Deflection-INT of Patrick Mahomes. pic.twitter.com/ZxN3E82DIj
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 23, 2022
Bates intercepted three passes in each of his first three NFL seasons. He only intercepted one pass in 2021 but added two more in the postseason.
The first came in the AFC Divisional Round Game against the Tennessee Titans on the first play from scrimmage. That interception helped the Bengals get a 3-0 lead in the early minutes. Then, in Super Bowl LVII, Bates intercepted a pass from Matthew Stafford that thwarted a potential Los Angeles scoring drive (the Rams were in Bengals territory) late in the first half.
Bates, along with Von Bell and rookie Dax Hill, gives Cincinnati a group of safeties that could be one of the best in the NFL.
