Cincinnati Bengals star safety Jessie Bates returned to the team this week and signed his franchise tag, which prompted roster moves by the Bengals.
Buy Bengals TicketsIt also prompted quite the reaction from his teammates in the locker room.
Just ask quarterback Joe Burrow, who said the following about Bates’ return, per Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer: “You felt the energy in the locker room when he came back.”
Not only that, Burrow says this was about where he expected Bates to return and the fact the franchise-tagged star did so provided a bit of a jolt, as captured by ESPN’s Ben Baby:
Bengals QB Joe Burrow said he was expecting S Jessie Bates back at some point over the next three weeks. Said he brought a good energy to the locker room when he returned yesterday.
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) August 24, 2022
Bates is still going to ease his way back into things on the field as he gets ready to play the season on the tag. But it’s clear his all-in arrival that gives him enough time to be ready by Week 1 has his teammates hyped.
