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TE · #87 · Washington Commanders · week 8 vs Philadelphia Eagles · Sun Nov 1 · 8:20 PM ET

John Bates

  • TYPE Blocking TE
  • ROLE in the rotation
  • CLASS 2021 · R4 P124
  • EXP 5 seasons
  • AGE 25-28
  • DEPTH TE3

As of week 8, John Bates was a TE for WAS, age 28.8, 5 seasons of experience, drafted in round 4. In 2026 through week 7 he was listed at depth rank 3 on his club's depth chart; he had played 6 games on 43% of snaps; his line was 6.8 receiving yards a game, 1.5 targets a game and a 5.1% target share (Blocking TE by the published rule). Before 2026 he played 85 games (postseason included) over 5 seasons. His injury history held 10 episodes (shoulder 3, calf 2, ankle 1), 2 of them reaching OUT, 3 a repeat of an earlier site; the last was an ankle injury in 2025 week 9.

The full read

In short

How our call moved in week 8

  • our call, P(plays)
  • club report (public)

71% LIKELY → 73% LIKELY

Every call we wrote for him in week 8, earliest first, as written.

In short

John Bates is in the rotation at tight end for WAS — 54% of the snaps in his best week of 7. He has a shoulder injury. In week 8 he did not practise, then practised limited. His team has listed him Questionable.

The reader concurs · grade B

Both reports are the club's own Friday injury report for this Sunday night game against the Eagles, listing Bates QUESTIONABLE with a shoulder (P1, P2) — a current designation, not history.

What the read cites

What was reportedSource
1“The Commanders ruled four players QUESTIONABLE: starting defensive tackle Daron Payne, rotational defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, fill-in starting receiver Treylon Burks, and No. 2 tight end John Bates.”Bleeding Green Nation · 2026-10-30
2“Bates was limited on Friday after not pra”Bleeding Green Nation · 2026-10-30
3“Newton was limited in practice all week. Guessing he won't suit up.”Bleeding Green Nation · 2026-10-30
4“Tight end John Bates (shoulder), defensive lineman Johnny Newton (pectoral) — he's technically still on IR — and defensive tackle Daron Payne (foot) are also questionable.”Hogs Haven · 2026-10-30
5“Defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw (knee) was ruled out of Sunday night's game, as expected.”Hogs Haven · 2026-10-30
The reader's full reasoning

The rest of the reading

The prose matches the dossier's improving shape: "Bates was limited on Friday after not pra[cticing]" (P1), and unlike Newton, whom the writer openly guesses "won't suit up" (P1), no writer doubts Bates. P1 also describes him as the "No. 2 tight end" (P1), which suggests a real role and cuts against a precautionary scratch, though it is about usage rather than status.

18versions in week 8
10average, every player
54most for one player

How the call moved

LIKELY since Sat Oct 31 · 2:10 AM ET · 43 h before kickoff · after the club said it (0 h). Biggest move: 50% → 73%, Fri Oct 30 · 5:02 PM ET to Sat Oct 31 · 2:10 AM ET, after: given a designation (Questionable); practiced more (Did Not Participate In Practice → Limited Participation in Practice).

Our call

Injury report

His team's word: Questionable

This is the TEAM'S OWN ANNOUNCEMENT, not a reading of ours. His team filed him on the injury report and we are restating it so the record is complete. There is nothing early about repeating an announcement — what we say ahead of one is on the week's page. Source: his team's published inactive list, on the day.

Practice in week 8

FriThuWed
LPdated Fri Oct 30DNPdated Fri Oct 30DNPdated Fri Oct 30

Shape of the week: improving. Only days the publisher dated are shown; a day we could not date is left out until the nightly sweep stamps it. The shape is a fact, not a forecast.

Head start

  • His club's word
  • Kickoff

The evidence behind his current call

What was reportedSource
“The Commanders ruled four players QUESTIONABLE: starting defensive tackle Daron Payne, rotational defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, fill-in starting receiver Treylon Burks, and No. 2 tight end John Bates.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)

What was reportedSource
“Bates was limited on Friday after not pra”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Newton was limited in practice all week. Guessing he won't suit up.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

Stats, with ranges — dot = his average, bar = his game range

  • Rec yds / game5.4 range 0.0–13

    wk 1–8 · 5 games

  • Targets / game1.2 range 0.0–3.0

    wk 1–8 · 5 games

  • Target share4.1% range 0–10

    wk 1–8 · 5 games

  • Snap share41.9% range 31–54

    wk 1–8 · 7 games

Snaps by week — his larger of the offence and defence share

  1. 49%wk 1
  2. 31%wk 2
  3. 54%wk 3
  4. 42%wk 4
  5. 45%wk 5
  6. 37%wk 6
  7. 35%wk 8

Missed while on the injury report

SeasonWeeks on the reportMissed while listed
202610

Only the weeks he was on the injury report with a recorded result — not every game of his career.

Medical history

WhenInjuryWeeks on a reportWorst status
2026 · wk 8shoulder1Questionable
2025 · wk 9ankle1Questionable
2025 · wk 7Not injury related1—
2025 · wk 6shoulder1—
2025 · wk 4calf2Out
2025 · wk 3groin1Out
2025 · wk 2shoulder1—
2024 · wk 19shoulder3—
2024 · wk 16illness1—
2022 · wk 7hamstring1Questionable
2022 · wk 1calf1—
2021 · wk 12chest1—

Every injury episode on file for him, as the record holds it.

Injury history by season · 11 episodes · plus 1 not injury related · 15 weeks on a report · same site more than once: shoulder ×4

  • ruled out
  • questionable
  • listed, and played

Each bar is one episode: the week it began and how many weeks he was on a report, coloured by the worst status. One that began after week 18 is in the table above and not drawn here.

The rest of his team's report in week 8

PlayerPosPracticeWhose wordCallChance he playsBand
Stefon DiggsWRFULLoursPLAY98%EXPECTED
Marcus MariotaQBFULLoursCOIN FLIPleans sit49%COIN FLIP
Fabian MoreauCBFULLteam's wordOut
Deatrich WiseDELTDoursPLAY92%EXPECTED
Daron PayneDTLTDteam's wordOut
Isaac YiadomCBUNKteam's wordOut
Nick AllegrettiGFULLoursPLAY69%LIKELY
Charles OmenihuDELTDoursPLAY98%EXPECTED
Terry McLaurinWRUNKteam's word—
Javon KinlawDTDNPteam's wordOut
Treylon BurksWRLTDteam's wordQuestionable
Luke McCaffreyWRLTDoursPLAY93%EXPECTED
Colson YankoffTEFULLoursPLAY93%EXPECTED
Jer'Zhan NewtonDTLTDteam's wordQuestionable
Jayden DanielsQBFULLoursPLAY90%EXPECTED
Athan KaliakmanisQBUNKteam's wordOut
Tanoa TogiaiGUNKteam's wordOut

The model reads the room: who else is out shifts what his own designation is worth.

The evidence behind his earlier calls

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 28 · 7:20 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 28 · 8:20 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 2:10 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 7:02 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 12:05 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 5:05 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 3:00 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 7:05 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 12:05 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 4:50 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 5:02 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 31 · 2:10 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 31 · 7:05 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 31 · 12:02 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Commanders ruled four players QUESTIONABLE: starting defensive tackle Daron Payne, rotational defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, fill-in starting receiver Treylon Burks, and No. 2 tight end John Bates.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30
“Tight end John Bates (shoulder), defensive lineman Johnny Newton (pectoral) — he's technically still on IR — and defensive tackle Daron Payne (foot) are also questionable.”Hogs Haven · Fri Oct 30

Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)

What was reportedSource
“Bates was limited on Friday after not pra”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 31 · 5:06 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Commanders ruled four players QUESTIONABLE: starting defensive tackle Daron Payne, rotational defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, fill-in starting receiver Treylon Burks, and No. 2 tight end John Bates.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30
“Tight end John Bates (shoulder), defensive lineman Johnny Newton (pectoral) — he's technically still on IR — and defensive tackle Daron Payne (foot) are also questionable.”Hogs Haven · Fri Oct 30

Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)

What was reportedSource
“Bates was limited on Friday after not pra”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

The evidence behind the call made Sun Nov 1 · 6:06 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Commanders ruled four players QUESTIONABLE: starting defensive tackle Daron Payne, rotational defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, fill-in starting receiver Treylon Burks, and No. 2 tight end John Bates.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30
“Tight end John Bates (shoulder), defensive lineman Johnny Newton (pectoral) — he's technically still on IR — and defensive tackle Daron Payne (foot) are also questionable.”Hogs Haven · Fri Oct 30

Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)

What was reportedSource
“Bates was limited on Friday after not pra”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

The evidence behind the call made Sun Nov 1 · 11:02 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Commanders ruled four players QUESTIONABLE: starting defensive tackle Daron Payne, rotational defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, fill-in starting receiver Treylon Burks, and No. 2 tight end John Bates.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)

What was reportedSource
“Bates was limited on Friday after not pra”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Newton was limited in practice all week. Guessing he won't suit up.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

The evidence behind the call made Sun Nov 1 · 4:02 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Commanders ruled four players QUESTIONABLE: starting defensive tackle Daron Payne, rotational defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, fill-in starting receiver Treylon Burks, and No. 2 tight end John Bates.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)

What was reportedSource
“Bates was limited on Friday after not pra”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Newton was limited in practice all week. Guessing he won't suit up.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

The evidence behind the call made Sun Nov 1 · 7:00 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Commanders ruled four players QUESTIONABLE: starting defensive tackle Daron Payne, rotational defensive tackle Jer'Zhan Newton, fill-in starting receiver Treylon Burks, and No. 2 tight end John Bates.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

Matched on part of his name only (a teammate or someone with the same surname can share it)

What was reportedSource
“Bates was limited on Friday after not pra”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Newton was limited in practice all week. Guessing he won't suit up.”Bleeding Green Nation · Fri Oct 30

Role

Call history

The data behind this page — the timeline in words, every call and week on record, about him, and what this page does not show

Profile — as of week 8

RoleTE3 · 43% snaps
Season2026 · 6 games through wk 7
Per game6.8 receiving yards · 1.5 targets · 5.1% target share
TypeBlocking TE
Career5 seasons · 85 games before 2026
Injuries10 episodes · last: ankle, 2025 wk 9
Bioage 28.8 · 5 seasons' experience · drafted round 4

Where the profile comes from

Built from: honors.db; nflverse injuries_2026.csv; medical.db; nflverse players.csv; profile.db; nflverse roster_2026.csv; nflverse roster_weekly_2026.csv; nflverse snap_counts_2026.csv; nflverse stats_player_week_2026.csv. Every number in it is one those sources hold.

nflverse injuries_2026.csv

About him

About himAs the record holds it
His rolein the rotation at tight end — 54% of the snaps in his best week of 7
Listed on the depth chartthird at tight end
Snaps played42% a week on average over 7 weeks, 54% at his highest, 46% on special teams
Build6 ft 6 in · 256 lb
CollegeBoise State
Drafted2021, round 4 pick 124, by WAS
Age25-28 at the season's start
Experience5 seasons

When this call was made, and when the world knew

  1. Team reportHis team listed him Questionable.
  2. PublicHis team's word was public as soon as it was filed.
  3. KickoffKickoff.

How our call moved, earliest first

WhenLeadCallChance he playsBandOn what
Wed Oct 28 · 7:20 PM ET98 hPLAY71%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Wed Oct 28 · 8:20 PM ET97 hPLAY71%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 29 · 2:10 AM ET91 hSIT48%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 29 · 7:02 AM ET86 hSIT48%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 29 · 12:05 PM ET81 hSIT48%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 29 · 5:05 PM ET76 hSIT48%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Fri Oct 30 · 3:00 AM ET66 hSIT50%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Fri Oct 30 · 7:05 AM ET62 hSIT50%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Fri Oct 30 · 12:05 PM ET57 hSIT50%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Fri Oct 30 · 4:50 PM ET53 hSIT50%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Fri Oct 30 · 5:02 PM ET52 hSIT50%COIN FLIPafter his team's announcement
Sat Oct 31 · 2:10 AM ET43 hPLAY73%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Sat Oct 31 · 7:05 AM ET38 hPLAY73%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Sat Oct 31 · 12:02 PM ET33 hPLAY73%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Sat Oct 31 · 5:06 PM ET28 hPLAY73%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Sun Nov 1 · 6:06 AM ET14 hPLAY73%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Sun Nov 1 · 11:02 AM ET9 hPLAY73%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Sun Nov 1 · 4:02 PM ET4 hPLAY73%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Sun Nov 1 · 7:00 PM ET1 hhis team's word——his team's published inactive list, on the day

18 calls in week 8, flipping between PLAY and SIT 2 times. Each lead time is the one that call actually had when it was written — never recounted from now. A call that changes is the record working: new evidence arrived and we said so, in public, before the game.

What would change this read

What would change this read
Saturday 31 Oct practice/status update or any downgrade on Bates
Sunday 01 Nov inactives list for the Commanders-Eagles game
Any coach (Quinn) remark on Bates' shoulder or expected snap count
Health of the tight ends ahead of/alongside him (e.g. Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott), which could force him up or down the gameday roster