Falcons' Jessie Bates: Notches pick-six in Week 17 win
Rotowire
Bates totaled seven tackles (four solo) and an interception, which he returned for a touchdown, in Monday's 27-24 victory against the Rams.
Bates played a major role in the Falcons' upset victory, giving Atlanta a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter when he picked off Matthew Stafford and return the ball 34 yards for a touchdown. That was the veteran safety's fourth career defensive touchdown, three of which have come during his three seasons in Atlanta. Bates also tied for second on the Falcons with seven stops Monday and needs five more tackles against the Saints in Week 18 to reach the triple-digit tackle mark for the third consecutive campaign.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Quiet outing in win
Rotowire
Bates tallied three tackles (two solo) during Atlanta's win over the Cardinals on Sunday.
Bates had a quiet outing in the victory, recording just three tackles despite playing all 57 defensive snaps for the Falcons. The 28-year-old will aim to have a bounce-back performance and resume his usual level of production during the Week 17 games versus the Rams.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Logs eight stops vs. Tampa Bay
Rotowire
Bates recorded eight total tackles (six solo) during Thursday night's 29-28 win over the Buccaneers.
After recording just six total tackles in the Falcons' previous two games, Bates returned to his usual output in Thursday's win. The veteran safety finished with the second-most tackles on Atlanta's defense, trailing Xavier Watts' nine-stop performance. Bates has played in all 14 of the Falcons' games this season, recording 85 total tackles, four passes defensed, including two interceptions, and one forced fumble. He's expected to remain one of the team's top defensive playmakers in the Week 16 matchup against the Cardinals.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Logs eight stops vs. Carolina
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Still managing knee issue
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Could play in Week 9
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Logs another limited practice
Rotowire
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).
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Limited in practice
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Avoids serious injury
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Done for Week 8 due to ankle issue
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Posts 10 stops in Week 7 loss
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Excellent again in 2024
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Logs nine tackles
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Makes 10 tackles in defeat
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Nabs pick in Week 8
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Forces two fumbles against Bucs
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Game-sealing interception on MNF
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Snags sixth pick
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Records 10 tackles in loss
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Falcons' Jessie Bates: Another interception
Rotowire
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.
