Bates Linebacker • 5’11” • 225 Lbs • College: Auburn Acquired: Free Agent - 2020 • Nfl Experience (Nfl/Titans): 8/4 Hometown: Olive Branch, Miss
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UPDATED BIOS DAREN 56 BATES LINEBACKER • 5’11” • 225 LBS • COLLEGE: AUBURN ACQUIRED: FREE AGENT - 2020 • NFL EXPERIENCE (NFL/TITANS): 8/4 HOMETOWN: OLIVE BRANCH, MISS. GAMES PLAYED/GAMES STARTED: 118/0 (PLAYOFFS: 7/0) Captain: 2018 PRO: Daren Bates is an athletic linebacker that has excelled on special registered a tackle on coverage units. teams coverage units during his NFL career. He joined the Titans in 2017 • At Cincinnati (11/1), saw action as a reserve on special teams and after spending time with the St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders. In 2018, collected a tackle on coverage units. he was named a Titans special teams captain for the first time. Bates, a • Against Chicago (11/8), registered two special teams tackles on coverage former rookie free agent, will once again look to make his biggest impact units. as a core member of the Titans’ special teams units and provide veteran • Against Indianapolis (11/12), saw action as a reserve on special teams. depth in the linebacking corps. • At Baltimore (11/22), led the team with two special teams tackles on coverage units. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS: • At Indianapolis (11/29), saw action as a reserve on special teams. • In 2018, Bates was a team captain (special teams) for the first time and • Against Cleveland (12/6), played as a reserve on special teams. tallied 10 special teams tackles. • At Jacksonville (12/13), led the team with a special teams tackle on • In 2017, Bates set a career high and ranked second on the team with 16 coverage units. special teams tackles. • Against Detroit (12/20), saw action as a reserve on special teams. • Bates registered back-to-back seasons (2014-2015) of double-digit • At Green Bay (12/27), played as a reserve on special teams. special teams tackles as a member of the St. Louis Rams. • At Houston (1/3), saw action as a reserve on special teams in the Titans’ division-clinching victory. TITANS TIDBITS: • Against Baltimore (1/10), played as a reserve on special teams. • In 2018, Bates and NFL defensive end Armonty Bryant opened AstroKids Gym in Austin, Texas. The facility offers children’s classes and camps 2019 (13/0, 3/0 - Tennessee): Played in 13 games and led the team based upon proprioceptive learning. with 11 special teams tackles. Also registered a tackle on defense and a • Bates is a Memphis native and a huge Memphis Grizzlies fan. forced fumble with a fumble recovery on special teams. Was inactive for • For the My Cause, My Cleats campaign, Bates has worn specially three contests. Appeared in all three postseason games and collected two designed cleats featuring the words “American Heart Association” to raise special teams stops. Led or tied for the team lead in special teams tackles awareness for the organization’s life-saving mission. His mother, Weslynn seven times in 2019 (at JAX, vs. TB, at CAR, vs. KC, vs. JAX, at IND, at Bates, was a heart transplant recipient and lived some wonderful years HOU). Played in his 100th career regular season contest against Tampa following her surgery. She sadly passed away in 2015 at the age of 56. Bay (10/27/19). • Bates is a tattoo enthusiast and has 107 tattoos. • At Cleveland (9/8), saw action as a reserve on special teams and as a fullback on the goalline. Collected a solo tackle at linebacker late in the CAREER TRANSACTIONS: game. • The Memphis, Tenn., native was originally signed by St. Louis Rams as • Against Indianapolis (9/15), registered a special teams tackle on coverage an undrafted free agent on May 9, 2013. units. • Signed by Oakland Raiders as a free agent on March 14, 2016. • At Jacksonville (9/19), tied for the team lead with a special teams stop. • Signed by the Titans as an unrestricted free agent on March 11, 2017. • At Atlanta (9/29), saw action on special teams. • Signed by the Houston Texans as a free agent on Aug. 23, 2020. • Against Buffalo (10/6), played as a reserve on special teams. • Released by the Texans on Aug. 31, 2020. • At Denver (10/13), saw action as a reserve on special teams. • Signed by the Titans to their practice squad on Sept. 13, 2020. • Against L.A. Chargers (10/20), played as a reserve on special teams. • Activated from the practice squad to the active roster COVID-19 • Against Tampa Bay (10/27), saw action as a reserve on special teams in replacement on Oct. 13, 2020. his 100th career regular season game and collected a tackle on coverage • Activated from the practice squad to the active roster COVID-19 units. replacement on Oct. 17, 2020. • At Carolina (11/3), played as a reserve on special teams and tied for the team lead with two tackles on coverage units. • Activated from the practice squad to the active roster standard elevation • Against Kansas City (11/10), saw action as a reserve on special teams on Oct. 24, 2020. and registered a tackle on coverage units. • Signed by the Titans to their active roster from the practice squad on Oct. • Against Jacksonville (11/24), played as a reserve on special teams and 27, 2020. led the team with three special teams tackles, including a forced fumble and fumble recovery on kickoff coverage. Set up the Titans’ fourth touchdown SEASON RECAPS: by stonewalling Michael Walker on a kickoff, while forcing and recovering 2020 (13/0, 1/0 - Tennessee): Appeared in 13 games as a reserve a fumble at the Jaguars’ seven-yard line in the third quarter. primarily on special teams and tied for second on the team with eight • At Indianapolis (12/1), saw action as a reserve on special teams before special teams tackles. Saw action as a reserve in the postseason contest. leaving the game in the second quarter with an injury. Tied for the team Spent the first three weeks of the season on the team’s practice squad. lead with a special teams tackle on coverage units. Was elevated to the active roster from the practice squad on gameday • At Oakland (12/8), was inactive. three times before joining the active roster for the remainder of the season • Against Houston (12/15), was inactive. on Oct. 27. Led or tied for the team lead in special teams tackles three • Against New Orleans (12/22), was inactive. times in 2020 (vs. HOU, at BAL, at JAX). • At Houston (12/29), returned to the lineup as a reserve on special teams • Against Buffalo (10/13), made his season debut as a reserve on special and tied for the team lead with a special teams stop. teams. • At New England (1/4), saw action on special teams. • Against Houston (10/18), saw action as a reserve on special teams and • At Baltimore (1/11), played as a reserve on special teams and collected notched a tackle on coverage units. a tackle on coverage units. • Against Pittsburgh (10/25), played as a reserve on special teams and • At Kansas City (1/19), saw action as a reserve on special teams and 2013 (15/0 - St. Louis): Played in 15 games as a rookie on special teams notched a tackle on coverage units. and collected four special teams tackles and a fumble recovery for a score. • At Houston (10/13), grabbed his first career fumble recovery, which he 2018 (16/0 - Tennessee): Appeared in all 16 games and ranked second returned 11 yards for a touchdown. on the team with 10 special teams tackles. Notched six tackles on defense. Led the team in special teams tackles twice in 2018 (at MIA, vs. BAL). COLLEGE: • At Miami (9/9), led the team with two special teams tackles. • Appeared in 49 games during his career at Auburn, totaling 316 tackles. • At Buffalo (10/7), played as a reserve at inside linebacker and on special Registered six double-digit tackle games in his collegiate career. teams. • As a senior, appeared in 12 games and recorded 94 tackles, two sacks, • Against Baltimore (10/14), saw action as a reserve at linebacker and an interception and a touchdown. amassed a career-best three tackles. Led the teams with three special • As a junior, started all 13 games and led the team with 104 tackles. teams tackles on coverage units. Finished fourth in the SEC with eight tackles per game. Notched five • Against New England (11/11), played as a reserve on special teams and double-digit tackle efforts, including three in the last four games of the limited snaps at linebacker. Notched three tackles on defense late in the season. Ranked third on team with 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and nine fourth quarter. quarterback hurries. • At N.Y. Giants (12/16), collected two tackles on coverage units. • Moved to linebacker as a sophomore after playing safety as a freshman in 2009 and appeared in 12 games with nine starts. Ranked eighth on team 2017 (16/0, 2/0 - Tennessee): Saw action in all 16 games primarily on with 48 tackles. special teams in his first season with the Titans. Ranked second on • As a freshman, started all 13 games at safety and totaled 70 tackles and the team with a career-best 16 special teams tackles. Played in both one fumble recovery. postseason contests and notched two special teams tackles. Led or tied • Majored in philosophy at Auburn. for the team lead in special teams tackles four times in 2017 (vs. SEA, at MIA, vs. BAL, at PIT). PERSONAL: • Against Oakland (9/10), saw action as a reserve on special teams in his • Attended Olive Branch (Miss.) High School for his final high school Titans debut.