Falcons' Jessie Bates: Logs eight stops vs. Carolina
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Bates recorded eight tackles (six solo) during the Falcons' 30-27 overtime loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Bates played every single defensive snap for a third consecutive game (and eighth time this season) and finished second on the Falcons in tackles behind Ronnie Harrison (11). Bates is up to 64 tackles (32 solo), three pass defenses (two interceptions) and a forced fumble through 10 regular-season games.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Strong performance in Week 10
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Bates recorded nine total tackles (six solo), two passes defensed, including an interception, and a forced fumble in Sunday's 31-25 overtime loss to the Colts.
Bates as all over the field in Week 10, finishing second on the team in takedowns behind fellow safety Xavier Watts (11). Bates made his mark in the second quarter, picking off Daniel Jones on a deep ball intended for wide receiver Alec Pierce. The safety also stripped the quarterback in the first quarter, but the Colts were able to jump on the loose ball. Bates is now up to 56 total tackles (26 solo), three passes defensed, including two interceptions, and a forced fumble over nine games this year.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Still managing knee issue
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Bates (knee) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Bates first hurt his knee in Week 8 against Miami. He was able to play through the injury this past Sunday against New England and didn't miss a defensive snap. Bates then opened this week with a full practice session but was back on the injury report due to the knee issue as a limited participant Thursday. The Falcons are flying to Berlin, Germany on Thursday night for their Week 10 matchup against Indianapolis but will still hold a practice Friday, per Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site. Bates' level of participation in that session should determine whether he'll head into the weekend with an injury designation.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Could play in Week 9
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Bates (knee) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Patriots, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Bates was a limited practice participant all week after sustaining a knee injury in the Falcons' Week 8 loss to the Dolphins. He's yet to miss a game this season, recording 45 total tackles through Atlanta's first seven games. However, if Bates is sidelined in Week 9, expect Jordan Fuller to start alongside Xavier Watts in the Falcons' secondary.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Logs another limited practice
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Bates (knee) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice.
Bates sustained a knee injury during the Falcons' Week 8 loss against the Dolphins, but the veteran safety relayed after Thursday's practice that he feels confident that he'll be cleared to play against the Patriots on Sunday. Without the 2018 second-rounder, the Falcons would have to turn to either Jordan Fuller or DeMarcco Hellams to start at safety alongside Xavier Watts. Bates has tallied at least five tackles in six of the first seven games of the regular season, and his 45 stops is second most on the Falcons behind Kaden Elliss (48).
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Limited in practice
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Bates (knee) was a limited participant in Atlanta's practice Wednesday, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.
Bates is considered to be day-to-day after suffering a knee injury in the fourth quarter of the Week 8 loss to the Dolphins. His status in Thursday and Friday's practice sessions should provide more clarity on his availability for Sunday's matchup versus the Patriots. If the 28-year-old ends up being unable to play, DeMarcco Hellams would likely start at safety in his place.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Avoids serious injury
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Head coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Bates is considered day-to-day due to an ankle injury that he sustained against the Dolphins on Sunday, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports.
Bates was officially ruled out early in the fourth quarter of this past Sunday's loss, finishing with six tackles (two solo) while playing 58 defensive snaps. The good news for Bates is that he has avoided a serious injury, but he is in jeopardy of being sidelined for the Falcons' Week 9 clash against the Patriots this Sunday. Jordan Fuller would likely step into a starting role alongside rookie third-rounder Xavier Watts if Bates were to miss time.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Done for Week 8 due to ankle issue
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Bates suffered an ankle injury Sunday versus Miami and has been ruled out for the remainder of the contest, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.
Bates was ruled out early in the fourth quarter. Prior to his exit, he tallied six tackles (two solo). DeMarcco Hellams and/or Jordan Fuller could log more snaps at safety in Bates' stead.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Posts 10 stops in Week 7 loss
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Bates registered 10 tackles (four solo) during the Falcons' 20-10 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.
Bates played every single defensive snap for a third consecutive game, and his 10 tackles were tied for most in the game with JD Bertrand and Malik Mustapha. Bates has recorded at least seven tackles in four of the first six games of the regular season, and he leads the Falcons with 39 tackles on the year.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Excellent again in 2024
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Bates recorded 102 tackles, including 1.0 sacks, along with 10 pass defenses (including four interceptions, one of which was a pick-six), four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery over 17 regular-season games.
Bates wasn't able to approach the career-high 132 stops he made in 2023, but he was still prolific as a tackler, notching his fifth career season with triple-digit stops. He also had two fewer interceptions than in the previous campaign, though he had twice as many pickoffs than anyone else on the Falcons and tied for 10th in the NFL in that category. For good measure, Bates recorded his second career pick-sick in Week 16 against the Giants and tied for fifth in the NFL with a career-best four forced fumbles. He's slated to be the centerpiece of Atlanta's secondary -- and an elite IDP option -- again in 2025, when he'll be in the third year of the four-year contract he inked in March of 2023.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Game-sealing INT vs. Las Vegas
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Bates registered two solo tackles and an interception during Monday's 15-9 loss to the Raiders.
Bates logged his third interception of the regular season Monday on a Hail Mary pass from Desmond Ridder. Bates' two tackles were his lowest since Week 7, but he's played in 100 percent of the Falcons' defensive snaps in nine of 14 regular-season games. He's up to 83 tackles (50 solo), eight pass defenses (including three interceptions), four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Logs nine tackles
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Bates totaled nine tackles (four solo) in Sunday's 42-21 loss to the Vikings.
Bates finished second on the team in tackles behind Kaden Elliss in Sunday's loss. Bates has now racked up 81 tackles (48 solo) and two interceptions across his first 13 outings of the season.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Makes 10 tackles in defeat
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Bates recorded 10 tackles (five solo) and a pass breakup in Sunday's 38-6 loss to the Broncos.
The free safety also played on 97 percent of the defensive snaps. Bates has 70 tackles (42 solo), six passes defensed, including two interceptions, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in 2024.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Nabs pick in Week 8
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Bates recorded five total tackles (three solo) and one interception in Sunday's 31-26 win over the Buccaneers.
The veteran safety picked off Baker Mayfield on the Buccaneers' first drive coming out of halftime, bringing his season total up to two interceptions. Bates has also accumulated 50 total tackles, four passes defended and three forced fumbles through Atlanta's first eight games. He's expected to continue starting alongside Justin Simmons as part of one of the the best safety duos in the NFL ahead of Week 9, when the Falcons host the Cowboys.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Forces two fumbles against Bucs
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Bates finished Thursday's 36-30 overtime win over the Buccaneers with eight tackles (three solo) and two forced fumbles.
Bates was the leading tackler for the Falcons on Thursday. His first forced fumble didn't lead to a turnover, but Bates managed to punch the ball out of Bucky Irving's hands late in the fourth quarter, which was recovered by Kaden Elliss. Bates has played every single defensive snap through the first five games of the regular season, and over that span he has recorded 37 tackles (23 solo), three passes defended, one interception and two forced fumbles.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Game-sealing interception on MNF
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Bates recorded 12 tackles (seven solo), two pass defenses and one interception during Monday's 22-21 win over the Eagles.
After a quiet Week 1, Bates stole the defensive show during Monday Night Football. He posted a game-high 12 tackles and secured the Falcons' win after intercepting Jalen Hurts with 20 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Bates had a career-high six interceptions during his first season in Atlanta last year.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Snags sixth pick
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Bates registered six tackles (four solo), two pass deflections and an interception during the Falcons' 29-10 victory versus the Colts on Sunday.
Bates was dominant once again while recording his sixth interception of the season. The 2018 second-round pick is having a career year, already setting new personal bests in both tackles and sacks across 15 games.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Records 10 tackles in loss
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Bates recorded 10 tackles (six solo). in Sunday's 9-7 loss to the Panthers.
Bates was once again a very busy man in Week 15, reaching double-digit takedowns for the fifth time this season. The safety has now compiled 111 tackles (tied for career high) while intercepting five passes, deflecting nine others and forcing three fumbles over 14 contests so far in his first season with Atlanta.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Another interception
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Bates recorded seven tackles (five solo) and one interception during Sunday's 13-8 win over the Jets.
Bates has recorded interceptions in back-to-back games, but unlike last week, he didn't return this one for a touchdown. However, he did tie Bud Dupree with a team-high seven tackles, giving him a strong fantasy floor. Bates was Atlanta's top free-agent signing this offseason, and he's been as advertised, notching four double-digit tackle outings and five interceptions through his first 12 appearances.
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Falcons' Jessie Bates: Snatches pick-six in win
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Bates recorded 12 tackles (seven solo), a pass deflection, a forced fumble and a pick-six during Atlanta's 24-15 win over the Saints on Sunday.
Bates intercepted Derek Carr in the first quarter and ran it back 92 yards for his first touchdown since his rookie season. The 2018 second-round pick also led the team in tackles once again and has now compiled 85 stops (55 solo) to go along with four interceptions in 11 games this season.
