Brenden Bates Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Titans vs Browns game on Sunday with our National Football League injury report.Nov 28, 2025
Out versus San Francisco
Bates (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the 49ers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
ANALYSIS
Bates was injured in last Sunday's win over the Raiders. A deep reserve at tight end, Bates has logged just 41 offensive snaps this season.
Nov 26, 2025
Out for Week 13
Bates (ankle) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the 49ers, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
The Kentucky product didn't practice Wednesday and has already been ruled out for Sunday's contest after sustaining an apparent ankle injury in the Week 12 win over the Raiders. Bates has appeared in seven games for the Jets and Browns this season, failing to record an offensive stat across 70 total snaps (41 on offense, 29 on special teams).
Oct 27, 2025
Bound for Cleveland
The Browns claimed Bates off waivers from the Texans on Monday.
ANALYSIS
Bates was waived by the Texans on Saturday, but he has found a new home in Cleveland, where he'll provide depth at tight end behind David Njoku, Harold Fannin and Blake Whiteheart. Bates appeared in three regular-season games for Houston prior to being waived and logged two catches on as many targets for 23 yards while splitting his snaps between offense and special teams.
Oct 25, 2025
Jettisoned by Houston
The Texans waived Bates from the 53-man roster Saturday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
Bates appeared in three games for the Texans, who signed him off the Browns practice squad in September. Houston will roll with two tight ends -- Dalton Schultz and Harrison Bryant -- for Week 8's home game against San Francisco.
Oct 23, 2025
Practices in full Thursday
Bates (wrist) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
ANALYSIS
Bates was limited Wednesday, but his return to full work Thursday puts him on track to play Sunday against the 49ers. The 26-year-old tight end has logged 20 offensive snaps across three appearances this season, snagging two passes for 23 yards.
Oct 22, 2025
Dealing with wrist injury
Bates was limited in Wednesday's practice due to a wrist injury.
ANALYSIS
Bates likely picked up the injury during the Texans' 27-19 loss to the Seahawks on Wednesday, when he played nine snaps (one on offense, eight on special teams) without showing up on the box score otherwise. He'll have two more opportunities to upgrade his practice participation ahead of Sunday's game against the 49ers.
Oct 6, 2025
Two grabs in win
Bates caught both of his targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 44-10 win over Baltimore in Week 5.
ANALYSIS
Bates served as the third tight end for the second consecutive week, playing 13 snaps behind Dalton Schultz and Harrison Bryant. His two catches came on the final drive of the game.
Sep 17, 2025
Headed to Houston
Bates signed with the Texans on Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
After terminating his practice squad contract with the Browns on Tuesday, the 25-year-old from Kentucky has found a new home in Houston. Bates appeared in seven games with the Browns and Jets in 2024, failing to catch his lone target while playing 70 total snaps (41 offensive and 29 on special teams). With Cade Stover (foot), Brevin Jordan (knee) and Irv Smith (ankle) all on injured reserve, Bates is expected to play a depth role in the Texans' tight end corps.
Sep 16, 2025
Terminates contract with Cleveland
Bates terminated his practice squad contract with the Browns on Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.
ANALYSIS
It's a potential sign that Bates plans to sign with another team, but that remains unclear at this point. Bates appeared in seven regular-season contests with the Jets and Browns last season and failed to catch his lone target across 123 offensive snaps.
Aug 29, 2025
Joins Cleveland's practice squad
The Browns signed Bates to their practice squad Friday, per the NFL's transaction log.
ANALYSIS
Bates couldn't earn a spot on Cleveland's final 53-man roster for 2025, but he'll stay with the club as a member of the practice squad. Over seven games with the Browns and the Jets in 2024, Bates played a total of just 41 offensive snaps.
Aug 27, 2025
Waived by Cleveland
Bates was waived by the Browns on Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
Bates made it through cutdown day Tuesday but was then one of two players let go to make room for a pair of waiver claims Wednesday. If Bates isn't claimed himself, he could potentially rejoin the organization on the practice squad.
Jan 9, 2025
Under contract for 2025
Bates played the final two games of the season for the Browns, garnering one target over 15 snaps.
ANALYSIS
Bates finished out the regular season on the Browns' 53-man roster after stints with the Bears and Jets. Cleveland signed him to a two-year deal off New York's practice squad in mid-December, and he'll be around to compete for a spot on the 2025 roster. Early indications are that the Browns will revert back to head coach Kevin Stefanski's previous offensive scheme, which featured multiple tight ends.
Dec 18, 2024
Poached by Cleveland
The Browns signed Bates off the Jets' practice squad Wednesday.
ANALYSIS
Bates suited up for five games with New York early in the season, before bumping down to the team's practice squad mid-October. The undrafted rookie out of Kentucky is still looking for an opportunity to log his first career catch in the NFL.
Oct 19, 2024
Back with Gang Green
The Jets signed Bates to the practice squad Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Bates was waived by the Jets on Thursday after appearing in each of the last five regular-season games. He had the option of signing with another team after clearing waivers, but he has opted to stick around in New York.
Oct 17, 2024
Let go by Jets
The Jets waived Bates on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
Bates was claimed off waivers by the Jets in late August after the undrafted tight end was unable to make the Bears' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. Bates was a healthy scratch in Week 1, but he has played in each of the Jets' last five regular-season games and has contributed on both offense and special teams, though he has not recorded a stat over that span. Assuming he clears waivers, Bates will look to join a team in need of tight end depth.
Aug 28, 2024
Lands with Jets
Bates was claimed off waivers by the Jets on Wednesday, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Bates fills the third spot on a Jets tight end depth chart that previously had only two players: Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert. The undrafted rookie out of Kentucky had been in camp with the Bears but was placed on waivers Tuesday. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Bates is known more for his blocking than his pass catching ability.
Aug 27, 2024
Waived by Chicago
Bates was waived by Chicago on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Bates was signed as an undrafted free agent in May, yet he was unable to make the 53-man roster in Chicago. Though he wasn't able to secure a roster spot behind fellow tight ends behind Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett and Marcedes Lewis, the 24-year-old's prowess as a blocker could help him to catch on with a practice squad around the league.
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