Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates returned to the team’s facility and is set to sign his franchise tag, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday. Bates had skipped the offseason program after failing to agree to a long-term deal.
Bates had skipped the entire offseason and the bulk of training camp after sides failed to agree to a long-term contract by the July 15 deadline for franchise-tagged players. The 25-year-old had not signed his tender and thus wasn’t subject to fines for missing camp.
With Cincy drafting Daxton Hill in the first round and Bates and the Bengals reportedly oceans apart in negotiations, it feels likely that the safety will play out a final year in Cincy before leaving in free agency next March.
#Bengals star safety Jessie Bates has now officially signed his franchise tag.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 23, 2022
We have made the following moves:
-Re-signed S Jessie Bates
-Placed S Brandon Wilson on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list
-Waived QB Drew Plitt— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 23, 2022