John Bates News: Notches longest catch of season

Bates recorded a 22-yard reception on his lone target in Monday's 28-7 loss to the Chiefs.

Bates' 22-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter was his longest gain since the 2023 campaign and tied for the third-biggest play of the night for a sputtering Commanders offense that finished with a season-low scoring total. The 27-year-old played 29 of the Commanders' 53 snaps on offense and has now cleared 50 percent snap shares in two straight weeks, but he'll continue to function mainly as a blocker while Zach Ertz serves as the team's top pass-catching tight end.