Jake Bates seems to be settling into Detroit's kicker role nicely.
It started with a 53-yard field goal in the preseason opener in rainy conditions in New Jersey last Thursday. On Sunday, Bates ended practice by making a 64-yarder with room to spare. During Monday night's practice he was perfect on all field goal attempts and extra point tries, hitting field goals from 33, 39 and 42 yards.
After a little bit of a rocky start to camp, Bates has been really good the last few days.
"The thing you want with any young player is to get them repetition," special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said walking off the field Monday. "That's really what most of them need. A lot of positions can't do that, but the kicker is the only one you sort of can."
Fipp said Bates has been really encouraging of late. He looks like he's building a ton of confidence that's showing through in practice and the preseason.
View photos from Day 12 of Detroit Lions training camp on Sunday August 11, 2024.
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3), Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (43) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9), Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (6) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Parker Hesse (43), Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70), Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (43), Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16), Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23), Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Parker Hesse (43) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Khalil Dorsey (30) Detroit Lions wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith (10) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5), Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14), Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (19) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end James Mitchell (82) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11), Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (15) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kaden Davis (88) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on August 11, 2024. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
BARRY SANDERS AT PRACTICE
Hall of Famer Barry Sanders took in practice Monday night and spoke to the media afterward.
"There is a lot of hype and just conversation, so it's really about these very important, significant days of camp where you're working on all your stuff and really perfecting who you are going to be. Establishing your identity," Sanders said of the expectations surrounding the team this year.
"For us fans we can really continue to harp on last year and all that kind of stuff. But these guys it's all about going forward and being focused and understanding they are a target and that these are the most important days because they are mundane days of summer camp but you're really taking strides on literally who you are going to be this season and how you are going to compete. It's too important."
PRACTICE INJURIES
It was a rough day Monday at practice for Detroit's secondary.
First-round pick Terrion Arnold and second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw Jr. both left Monday evening's practice with injuries. Per the team, Arnold is dealing with an upper body injury and Rakestraw is dealing with an ankle injury.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs also left practice to be evaluated for a leg injury. He also did not return.
ROSTER MOVES
With quarterback Hendon Hooker still sidelined from practice due to a concussion suffered in his preseason debut against the Giants last week and the team's second preseason game fast approaching in Kansas City on Saturday, the Lions signed veteran quarterback Jake Fromm.
Fromm, 26, was a fifth-round pick by Buffalo in 2020 out of Georgia. He's had stops in Buffalo, New York (Giants) and Washington over the last three seasons. He's played in three career games for the Giants in 2021 and has an 0-2 record as a starter with one touchdown and three interceptions.
The Lions also signed linebacker Ty Summers after waving injured wide receiver Antoine Green and releasing offensive lineman Ike Boettger.
GOING THROUGH THE TAPE
Head coach Dan Campbell and Fipp spent Sunday going through all of the Week 1 preseason tape from the 30 other teams as they continue to strategize about the new kickoff return roles.
"Watched them and every time you see one, you do, you learn something new," Campbell said. "A team's doing this, they're not doing this, and you learn it on both sides of the ball. I think what it's going to come down to is what you feel like you're figuring out a little bit is what is the risk reward.
"If you're a kickoff team and, ultimately, feel like you want to have this advantage, that's why you're kicking it into play. Well, if we're out there battling just so they get it back to the 30 or the 29 repetitive, what are we really gaining? You want to feel like, if we're doing this, we can get them inside the 25 at least."
To do that, Campbell said teams have to be aggressive and run lanes. If a player gets kicked out of a lane, the coverage team opens itself up to a huge play. That's the battle Campbell and Fipp are going back and forth with as they continue to rep it.
EXTRA POINT
After playing both defensive end and SAM linebacker, the Lions are going to move James Houston permanently to defensive end so he can focus on rushing the passer and setting the edge.
