Here are the latest moves from around the NFL:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed via waivers: CB Marco Wilson
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on injured reserve: OT Dawand Jones (story)
Detroit Lions
- Activated from injured reserve: DT Brodric Martin
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from injured reserve: RB Keilan Robinson
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: LB Titus Leo
- Placed on injured reserve: LB Curtis Jacobs
- Waived: LB Ochaun Mathis
Lions rookie kicker Jake Bates is proving to be worth every bit of the 2-year deal the Lions signed him to this off-season.
Bates originally a college soccer player, later transfered to Texas State and Arkansas to play football. However he only handled kickoffs in college.
Last year, Bates followed fellow college soccer player, Brandon Aubrey in signing with The UFL to pursue the kicker business with Detroits’ own Michigan Panthers.
Aubrey , was drafted in the 1st round of the 2017 MLS Draft (TOR)
For his soccer skills.
Later,
Per wiki::
“fter being released from the Bethlehem Steel FC in 2018, Aubrey decided to use his degree from Notre Dame to become a software engineer. While watching an NFL game on TV in 2019, a placekicker missed a field goal and his wife told him: “You could do that.”[8] From 2019 to 2022, Aubrey worked with a former Mississippi State kicker and kicking coach Brian Egan three times a week.[9]”
This lead to him signing with The USFL’s Birmingham Stallions, where he thrived on a 2023 Championship team.
Aubrey was a Pro-Bowl rookie for the Dallas Cowboys last season , leading the a 3 year extension on his initial 1-year camp-battle deal.
Bates holds the record for the longest FG in UFL history (64 yards) and is currently battling the likes of Kai Fairbairn for a Pro-bowl spot as the leagues top kicker , in hopes of matching Aubrey’s “rookie pro-bowl” achievement.
Despite neither player having any real experience kicking in college , both were not only able to thrive at the UFL level, but the success has translated to the NFL, with both being considered among the top-5 or 10 kickers in the entire NFL.
With the 2025 season kicking off on FOX this June, one promising kicker to keep an eye on is San Antonio’s re-signing of YouTuber DeeStroying, who has hired private kicking coaches to help develop his game for the pro level.
Over time, it will be interesting to see if The UFL can continue producing great NFL kickers out of seemingly nowhere.