Washington Football Team: John Bates has inside track for No. 2 TE spot

The Washington Football Team made a surprise cut earlier this week, releasing tight end Temarrick Hemingway two weeks into the preseason.

Although Hemingway only recorded one reception last season, many believed the fifth-year tight end had the inside track on being the second tight end on the roster, behind last year’s breakout star Logan Thomas.

But, Hemingway struggled in the first preseason game against the New England Patriots, recording no offensive statistics. Hemingway suffered a concussion injury and did not play in the game against the Cincinnati Bengals and was released a few days later.

Despite the recent struggles, reporters on the Washington Football Team beat still thought Hemingway would end up on the final 53-man roster.

Does John Bates now have the inside track for the TE2 spot?

With Hemingway off the team, the Washington Football Team now is rostering five tight ends. Thomas is an obvious lock as the TE1, coming off a career-best season and with a freshly-inked $24 million contract.

As for the TE2 spot, the Washington Football Team seems primed to turn to its rookie tight end, John Bates.

Bates was drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft back in April, a relatively high draft cost for a tight end. As such, the Washington Football Team will likely be looking to use him to see what kind of value they can get out of that draft pick.

Bates’ collegiate stats at Boise State don’t jump off the page initially. His best season in Idaho came in 2019, when he recorded 22 receptions for 273 yards and a touchdown. That season represented roughly half of his games played, yards and touchdowns. However, despite stats that seem limited, he ended his career sixth among Boise State tight ends in all-time receiving yards in just 23 career games.

Collegiate statistics don’t necessarily make or break an NFL player either. Thomas did not even play the position in college, while other tight ends such as Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox and future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates didn’t even play football in college.

Bates also has solid measurables. He is listed at 6-foot-6, 259 pounds on the Washington Football Team website. The tools are certainly there for Bates to overachieve in his rookie season.

Thus far in the preseason, Bates has recorded one reception for 19 yards on two total targets. Again, preseason stats should be taken with a grain of salt, and the tight end position especially depends on more than just what shows up in the stat sheet.

Bates certainly has the build to be an effective run blocker. He has shown flashes in limited opportunities to be effective in the passing game. Plus, as a mid-round pick, he has the luxury of organizational backing and some more leeway than his veteran counterparts.

The tight end room in Washington remains crowded, and players like Ricky Seals-Jones or Sammie Reyes can make a run at the second tight end spot. However, with a little more than two weeks to go until the season begins, it appears to be Bates’ spot to earn.

Washington Football Team would be making big mistake cutting this preseason standout

The Washington Football Team would be making a big mistake big cutting this preseason standout before the 53-man deadline.