Cincinnati Bengals star safety Jessie Bates has reported to training camp and will sign his franchise tag.
Buy Bengals TicketsThe Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway reported that Bates is indeed in the building before the team starts joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams this week.
It was only a matter of time before Bates showed up and signed before playing during the regular season under the current collective bargaining agreement.
Bates and the Bengals didn’t agree to an extension before the July 15 deadline so he has to play the season on the $12.9 million tag. Since he hadn’t signed, he wasn’t subjected to any fines during the brief holdout.
In the interim, first-rounder Dax Hill soaked up all of the first-team reps, with Bates reaching out to help the rookie.
