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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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.
Bates recorded 12 total tackles (seven solo), including 1.0 sacks, in Sunday night's 30-24 overtime loss to the Commanders. Bates led Atlanta's defense in total tackles while tying his season high in stops in a single game during Sunday's overtime loss. The Wake Forest product has seen a decrease in production from his first to his second year in Atlanta, having now recorded 97 total tackles, including 1.0 sacks, four passes defended and four forced fumbles while appearing in all 16 of the Falcons' regular-season games thus far. Expect Bates to continue starting alongside Justin Simmons as part of the Falcons' top safety duo in the Week 18 matchup against the Panthers.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Bates is listed as a starting safety on the Falcons' official depth chart, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports. This isn't a surprise. However, the Falcons signing fellow safety Justin Simmons and trading for outside linebacker Matthew Judon late in training camp was a major surprise. The newcomers are listed as backups on the official depth chart, but that's expected to change as they get acclimated to head coach Raheem Morris' scheme. Bates starred during his first season in Atlanta last year, finishing with 133 tackles (89 solo), 11 pass defenses, six interceptions, three forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown across 17 appearances.