Player Bio
| HT/WT: 6-6, 256 lbs |
| Birthplace: Nyssa, OR |
| Age: 28 |
| School: Boise St. |
| Experience: 6 |
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1:24Saquon Barkley's Future with Eagles Ahead of Trade Deadline
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63:03Russell Wilson and Kyle Long react to NFL Week 6: Jalen Hurts news, Caleb Williams' return & more | Set, Hut!
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Brock Purdy Shines Again, 49ers' Remain Undefeated
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2026 Receiving
| STATS |
REC
Receptions
|
YDS
Receiving Yards
|
AVG
Average Yards per Reception
|
TD
Receiving Touchdowns
|
LNG
Longest Reception
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Season | 5 | 27 | 5.4 | 0 | 9 |
Top John Bates News
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Commanders' John Bates: No targets in loss
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.
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Commanders' John Bates: Slated for TE1 duties Week 2
Bates should take on an elevated role against the Cowboys on Sunday after Chig Okonkwo was ruled out due to a hamstring injury.
Bates has primarily been utilized as a run blocker during his NFL career, though he did come up with two catches (on three targets) for 13 yards during the Commanders' 24-22 loss to the Eagles in Week 1. Bates should see an uptick in offensive snaps and targets from Jayden Daniels due to Okonkwo's absence, with Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff also in the mix for elevated roles.
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Commanders' John Bates: Two catches in loss
Bates caught two of three targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 24-22 loss to the Eagles.
Bates started along with Chig Okonkwo at tight end, and he garnered more than two targets in a regular-season game for the first time since Week 9 of the 2025 campaign. Bates was on the field for 34 of the team's 70 offensive snaps while also logging 15 more snaps on special teams.
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Commanders' John Bates: Avoids injury report Wednesday
Bates (hamstring) is not listed on the injury report for Wednesday's practice.
Despite dealing with a hamstring issue throughout the preseason, Bates is not listed on Wednesday's injury report ahead of the Week 1 meeting with the Eagles. The 28-year-old has spent his entire career with the Commanders, most recently catching 11 passes for 103 yards and one touchdown in 15 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
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Commanders' John Bates: Set to practice Tuesday
Bates (hamstring) is set to begin practicing Tuesday, Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site reports.
Bates suffered a hamstring injury in late July and has not practiced since the issue developed. The tight end is recovering well and is set to see at least a limited practice session Tuesday. While Bates has been absent, Ben Sinnott has been expanding his route tree in the hopes of obtaining the No. 2 tight end role. Bates will need to prove he can maintain his position behind Chig Okonkwo as he works his way back the remainder of the preseason.
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Commanders' John Bates: Sidelined by hamstring injury
Bates will miss "a couple of weeks" due to a hamstring injury, Ben Standig of Big 100 Washington D.C. reports.
Bates hurt his hamstring during practice Thursday and is going to miss a significant portion of training camp as a result. The third-year tight end is slated to work behind Chig Okonkwo this season, but Bates' injury could open the door for Ben Sinnott to make a push for the No. 2 role at the position.
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Commanders' John Bates: Held without a catch vs. Cowboys
Bates was not targeted during Thursday's 30-23 loss to Dallas.
Bates played 43 percent of offensive snaps but didn't draw a single target from fill-in quarterback Josh Johnson, while Ben Sinnott (61 percent of snaps) secured three of four looks for 29 yards. Expect Bates to again contribute as the No. 2 tight end behind Sinnott during Washington's regular-season finale against the Eagles in Week 18.
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Commanders' John Bates: Logs one catch in Week 15 win
Bates caught his lone target for 19 yards during the Commanders' 29-21 win over the Giants on Sunday.
Bates hauled in a 19-yard pass from Marcus Mariota early in the second quarter, but the fifth-year tight end wasn't targeted again for the rest of the game. Bates was named the starter for Sunday's NFC East clash one week after Zach Ertz sustained a season-ending torn ACL, though the former will likely operate in a timeshare with Ben Sinnott for the rest of 2025. Next up for Bates and the Commanders is a Week 16 home tilt against the Eagles on Saturday.
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Commanders' John Bates: Set for larger role sans Ertz
Bates did not record a target during the Commanders' 31-0 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
Bates failed to see a target from a Commanders QB for the fifth time this season (and second time in Washington's last three games). However, with Zach Ertz out for the rest of season due to a torn ACL, Bates and Ben Sinnott are both poised for expanded roles on offense over the final four games of the regular season, starting with this Sunday's NFC East clash against the Giants.
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Commanders' John Bates: Two catches vs. Denver
Bates caught both of his targets for nine yards in Sunday night's 27-26 overtime loss to the Broncos.
Even with Zach Ertz's monster performance (10-106-0), Bates was still involved in the Commanders' passing attack during Sunday night's loss. The Boise State product has appeared in 10 games this season, catching eight of 12 targets for 71 yards. He's likely to remain a minimal component of Washington's offensive game plan in the Week 14 matchup against the Vikings.
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Commanders' John Bates: Logs 20 yards in blowout loss
Bates caught two of four targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 38-14 loss to the Seahawks.
The Boise State product tallied season highs in targets and receptions during Sunday's loss, finishing with the fourth-most receiving yards on the Commanders. Bates has now recorded five catches for 56 yards through seven appearances in 2025. He's likely to remain Washington's No. 2 tight end and continue playing behind Zach Ertz during the Week 10 matchup against the Lions.
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Commanders' John Bates: Cleared to play vs. Seattle
Bates (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Seahawks.
Bates was limited in the final two practices of Week 9 prep due to an ankle injury, but he's been cleared to play Sunday night after going through pregame warmups. Bates and Ben Sinnott will provide depth at tight end behind Zach Ertz.
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Commanders' John Bates: Nursing ankle injury
Bates (ankle) was a limited participant in Friday's practice and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Bates appeared on Thursday's injury report due to an ankle injury, which limited his participation in Friday's session. He's questionable to play Sunday, and his status may not be known until he goes through pregame warmups. With Colson Yankoff (hamstring) already ruled out for Week 9, the Commanders may elevate Lawrence Cager from the practice squad to provide tight end depth behind Zach Ertz and Ben Sinnott in the event that Bates is not cleared to play.
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