The kicker hit a game-winning field goal on the road against the Minnesota Vikings.
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has been named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
On Sunday, the rookie hit a game-winning field goal with 15 seconds remaining against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Lions won 31-29.
It was his first career game-winner — from 44 yards out — as he also hit all four of his extra point attempts in the victory.
The former UFL kicker was signed in training camp as he wasn't even expected to be the Lions' kicker at the start of the season, Michael Badgley suffered a season-ending injury at the first practice of the year and it was Bates that was handed the keys from that point forward.
So far through Detroit's first six games, he's a perfect 10-for-10 in field goal tries and has only missed one extra point that came against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3.
Bates never attempted a field goal at the college level and instead gained a reputation with his leg power while kicking for the Michigan Panthers of the UFL.
Bates said after the victory on Sunday that he once thought he was done playing football less than two years ago.
“Eighteen months ago, I thought I was through with football,” Bates said. “I was selling bricks back in Houston. I thought the dream was dead.”
He then got a tryout opportunity for the Houston Texans in August 2023 but was cut 10 days into training camp. That's when he went to the UFL and was then given a chance to compete with Badgley for the kicking job.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said earlier this week has has so much confidence in his kicker that he would consider letting him attempt a 73-yard field goal.
"I think I said it, right? I think that's what I said. He felt good about it. When you — we had five games with him, NFL games. And then when you see him every day in practice and you give him the crowd noise and you move the spot and I'm yelling at him, and you just apply pressure, you watch him, he continues to make these kicks," Campbell said after the win on Sunday.
"You feel pretty good when he gets thrust into it. It's not the same, but it is. We felt like his confidence has grown. He can go out there and get the kick. He did that. Really proud of him; really proud of him."
This is the fourth consecutive week — excluding the team's Week 5 bye — that a Lions player has won a weekly award. Punter Jack Fox was the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 3; quarterback Jared Goff was Offensive Player of the Week in Week 4; and safety Brian Branch was Defensive Player of the Week in Week 6.
The Lions next face the Washington Commanders on Sunday at 3:25 p.m. CT.
