The Washington Commanders spent an entire offseason giving David Blough more toys to play with. When he finally needed one play to save the season opener, he somehow settled on John Bates.
It never seems to take long for injuries to start piling up in the NFL world. Even now, just a week and some change into training camp, the Washington Commanders are already starting to buckle under the weight of an injury list that isn't getting any less cramped with names.
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn announced Saturday that tight end John Bates strained his hamstring in Thursday's practice and will miss multiple weeks.
A few trades have rearranged the NFL's backup quarterback ranks, but the dust has mostly settled. From a mix of recent first-round disappointments, aging vets, and young project types, here is how the league's QB2 ranks look for the 2026 season.
The Commanders have avoided injury for the most part during training camp, but the latest one will keep an important player out of training camp for a bit.
John Bates is not No. 20 on this roster ranking because he is one of Washington’s most dangerous receiving threats. He lands here because he gives the Commanders something every serious offense needs: a physical, reliable, assignment-sound tight end who can help control the edge of the formation.
In an era where the tight end position is celebrated for receiving production and fantasy football appeal, the Washington Commanders are proving that the old-school version of the position still has a place in the modern game.
The Washington Commanders are playing their backups at tight end with John Bates sidelined with a groin injury. This put Ben Sinnott and Colson Yankoff in the spotlight for the Commanders against the Las Vegas Raiders, but head coach Dan Quinn was pleased with the results.
Washington Commanders tight end John Bates is in danger of missing the team's Week 3 matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders with a groin injury. If he is unable to go, the Commanders offense will be at a massive disadvantage.
The Washington Commanders are reeling from some significant injury concerns right now. One of the most overlooked might be the most glaring aside from franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels.
NFL stars can't play forever, and retirement is coming sooner than later for some of the league's top players. These 25 players could call it quits following the 2026 season.
The Washington Commanders took another hit on Thursday night as tight end John Bates was ruled out for the rest of the game against the Green Bay Packers.
You won't see John Bates as a focal point of the Washington Commanders' passing attack anytime soon. He's not going to be among the leaders in receiving yards among tight ends around the league.
The offense is the flashier side of the ball for the Washington Commanders, but one of the best parts is the dirty work that's not getting enough attention.
Of all the players the Washington Commanders have either signed, re-signed, or otherwise acquired this offseason, one of the most under-the-radar might be tight end John Bates.
The Washington Commanders weren't expected to keep all three of their tight ends this offseason. Obviously, second-year player Ben Sinnott was going to
The Washington Commanders are fortifying their tight end room, according to NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo. "The #Commanders have agreed to terms with TE John Bates on a three-year deal, sources say," Garafolo tweeted.
Less than 24 hours after re-signing three-time Pro Bowler Zach Ertz, the Washington Commanders are returning another tight end from last season’s roster.
The Commanders certainly seem to approve of their 2024 tight end setup. After re-signing Zach Ertz, the team is keeping its blocking tight end as well.
Boise State will be well-represented in Sunday’s conference championship round of the NFL playoffs. Former Broncos tight end John Bates and running back Jeremy McNichols play for the Washington Commanders, who will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Not counting special teams, 44 Washington Commanders have played at least 20 snaps in 2024. Of those, only 19 were with the team last season. That number includes Jamin Davis and Emmanuel Forbes Jr.
If you blinked, you probably would’ve missed it. During Sunday’s back-and-forth battle between the Commanders and Steelers, Washington tight end John Bates and Pittsburgh linebacker John Bates were called for offsetting penalties after a play.
The Pittsburgh Steelers played in an intense Week 10 contest against the Washington Commanders. The game was close nearly the entire time, but Pittsburgh managed to escape with a 28-27 victory.
The Pittsburgh Steelers went the distance with the Washington Commanders in their 28-27 Week 10 victory. Entering the matchup as underdogs, the Steelers leaned on Russell Wilson's leadership to pull off a thrilling comeback, securing his third win of the season and pushing the team to a strong 7-2 record.