Jake Bates: When does Michigan Panthers star and Lions target play again?

The Michigan Panthers and UFL prima kicker Jake Bates volition beryllium backmost connected the tract for their last crippled of the regular play connected Saturday, June 1, successful what volition beryllium a playoff preview against the Birmingham Stallions.

The crippled volition instrumentality spot astatine the location of the Stallions, Protective Stadium, and the kickoff is acceptable for 2 p.m. ET. The crippled volition beryllium broadcast connected ESPN and ESPN Xtra connected SiriusXM.

This contention is simply a rematch of the Week 2 crippled erstwhile the Stallions topped the Panthers, 20-13, astatine Ford Field. The Stallions person an 8-1 grounds going into this game, portion the Panthers are 7-2. Both teams person already locked up their playoff spots and volition look disconnected again adjacent week successful the USFL Conference Championship connected Saturday, June 8.

Bates enters the crippled 15-of-19 connected the season, but he's coming disconnected a contention successful which helium missed a 39-yard tract goal, his shortest misfire of the season. The Panthers kicker has not made a tract extremity successful each of the past 2 games.

Of his 4 misses successful 2024, 3 of them person travel outdoors, though 2 of those were from 58 and 62 yards, truthful discourse is important.

But nary of that hasn't been capable to sour what has been a large play for him. Bates has made a full of six tract goals implicit 50 yards, including 3 of 60-plus. That has nary uncertainty caught the attention of NFL teams, including the Detroit Lions, who person reportedly shown interest.

Hopefully Bates tin rebound connected Saturday up of what volition beryllium the astir important crippled of the 2024 play adjacent week.