2026 · WEEK 5 CLOSE
$0–1W–SINCE '26 DRAFTHIGH $0
AGE28Nov 6, 1997
EXP5 yrssince 2021
HEIGHT6'6"
inherits 4% of WAS targets (76% vacated, his claim 5%)
Bates played 22 offensive snaps and 14 special-teams snaps in Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Cowboys.
Bates played 22 of the Commanders' 71 offensive snaps in his start. The tight end was primarily used as a blocker for the team's run game but did not steal any targets from Ben Sinnott in the effort.
Bates should take on an elevated role against the Cowboys on Sunday after Chig Okonkwo was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
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Bates could be in line to lead Washington's tight-end room against the Cowboys in Week 2, as Tashan Reed of The Washington Post reports that Chig Okonkwo didn't practice Wednesday due to a hamstring injury.
Okonkwo had two catches for 16 yards on three targets prior to exiting Washington's Week 1 loss to the Eagles due to a hamstring injury, which is keeping the starting tight end off the field to begin Week 2 prep. Bates also had two catches in the season opener and seems like the next man up at the position, ahead of Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff.
Everyone sharing the ball with John, most valuable first.
Above the line the plan was to throw; below it, to run.
Bates caught two of three targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Eagles.
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Bates (hamstring) is not listed on the injury report for Wednesday's practice.
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Bates (hamstring) is set to begin practicing Tuesday, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
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Bates will miss "a couple of weeks" due to a hamstring injury, Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C. reports.
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Bates was not targeted during Thursday's 30-23 loss to Dallas.
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Bates caught his lone target for 19 yards during the Commanders' 29-21 win over the Giants on Sunday.
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Bates could work as the Commanders' top tight end down the stretch, as Zach Ertz was placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to a knee injury.
After Ertz's injury, Bates tops a Commanders tight end depth chart that also includes Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff. Bates has been the top backup to Ertz throughout the 2025 season up to this point, even though Washington invested more draft capital in Sinnott, as Sinnott was a 2024 second-round pick while Bates was a 2021 fourth-round pick who re-signed with the Commanders for three years in March of 2025.
Bates did not record a target during the Commanders' 31-0 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
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Bates caught both of his targets for nine yards in Sunday night's 27-26 overtime loss to the Broncos.
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The TEs priced immediately above and below him.
