Yahoo Sports NFL on John Bates

ArticleDo Chig Okonkwo, Antonio Williams & Treylon Burks offer enough receiving help f...Captured August 1, 2026
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with Okonkwo's added flavor, the returning supplementary contributors at tight end have the chance to surge in settling into their own niches.

STACKED’s take

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Bates to settle into clearer role with Okonkwo taking top receiving tight end duties.

With Okonkwo's arrival, Bates has the opportunity to settle into a clearer role. The source acknowledges 'as helpful as John Bates' blocking was' in the vacuum left by Ertz's injury, but suggests Okonkwo's addition will allow Bates to define his niche more distinctly within the tight end depth chart.

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