Bengals not expected to reach extension with safety Jessie Bates

The Cincinnati Bengals do not appear to be close to agreeing to terms with safety Jessie Bates III on a contract extension.

The Cincinnati Bengals are a team building toward playoff contention in the very near future. To do so, they will need to keep impending free agents under contract. So far, they have not done so with safety Jessie Bates III, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, with the regular-season being a little less than a month away.

According to ESPN senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler, Bates and the Bengals are not expected to reach a deal on a contract extension “at this time.”

Bengals: Team not close to reaching agreement with Jessie Bates on contract extension

Considering both sides are not close to an agreement, and with the season approaching, it is unlikely that the two will return to the negotiation table before next offseason. While the team running the risk of losing Bates to free agency, they can always choose to place the franchise tag on Bates if they so choose.

Bates was a 2018 second-round selection by the Bengals out of Wake Forest and became an instant starter with the team. In fact, Bates has not missed a single game in his three years with the Bengals.

The safety is coming off his best campaign in 2020, where he recorded 109 combined tackles, 15 defended passes, three interceptions and one forced fumble. In coverage, Bates allowed 25 receptions for 317 yards and three touchdowns on 46 targets, per Pro Football Reference.

In total, Bates recorded 320 combined tackles, 31 defended passes, nine interceptions, two forced fumbles (one recovery) and one defensive touchdown through three seasons.

The Bengals fanbase sure will hope that the two sides can agree to terms to an extension prior to the season. But based off this report, that may not happen.