Lions 2026 Training Camp Medical Preview: Specialists
Running (kicking?) it back with this trio
The Detroit Lions three members of the kicking unit are etched in stone heading into the 2026 season. All have been on the Lions for at least the past 2 seasons. All are on the younger side (for specialists anyway) and have clean medical histories. It’s nice to not have to worry about this part of the game.
🟢0-3 Low medical concern
🟡4-6 Moderate medical concern
🔴7-10 High medical concern
(Age at start of season in parentheses.) Click on player name for full medical report if available.
🟢Jake Bates, K (27)
Medical concern level: 1/10
Last season, Bates took an excessive number of hits on kickoff coverage while trying to make touchdown-saving tackles. Official stats have him making 4 tackles last season - 3 of them solo.
The last thing you want from an injury standpoint is your kicker out there making solo tackles.
Fortunately, Bates avoided major injury, but he may have been knocked around enough to affect his performance. An unofficial concussion on one of those big hits is a possibility.
OUTLOOK: Bates will be entering his third season with the Lions. His field goal percentage dipped from 90% to 79% last season. If the Lions kickoff unit can do a better job stopping the returner before he gets to Bates, the field goal percentage will likely elevate again.
🟢Jack Fox, P (30)
Medical concern level: 0/10
Fox is entering his seventh year with the team and has yet to miss a game in that time. There are no major injuries in his past.
Since I brought up Bates’ tackling stats, I’ll do the same here with Fox. Last season, he made 2 tackles, both solo.
OUTLOOK: There are no questions about Fox’s leg. The only question is if he’ll get to show off his arm again on some trick plays. He did not log a single pass attempt last season.
🟢Hogan Hatten, LS (26)
Medical concern level: 0/10
Hatten has played in every game in the past two seasons with the Lions. I have no record of any significant injuries for him. He made 2 tackles last season, zero of them solo.
OUTLOOK: You only notice a long snapper when he does something tragically wrong or gets seriously injured. Over the past two seasons, I haven’t noticed Hatten at all, which suggests he’s doing a fine job snapping and staying healthy. I expect to continue to not notice him in 2026.