Jessie Bates On Re-Signing With Bengals: 'I'd Love To Be Here, But That's Out Of My Control'

The safety may have just played his last game for Cincinnati.

CINCINNATI — Jessie Bates III has ridden a rollercoaster with the Cincinnati Bengals over the last five seasons. 

That may have ended following the 23-20 loss to Kansas City, but he didn't sound like a guy ready to stop the ride.

"Yeah, like I said, I'm super grateful, super grateful," Bates said about his journey. "It's all I could think about running off the field is where we were when I first got here and where it ended. It just says a lot. It says a lot about how you love one another all the time. We've been talking about that all year round. Good things happen.

"I've met a lot of great people in this locker room, in this training room. You know reporters. Normal people in Cincinnati. I have built huge relationships and connections. So yeah, if this is it, I'm super grateful for the process. Super grateful for everything that I've learned here in Cincinnati, my five years, so we'll see what happens."

Bates had a nice 2022 campaign playing on the safety franchise tag. 

He had to settle for that deal after the Bengals wouldn't budge on a long-term offer.

The Bengals also have Vonn Bell up for a new deal. Both players are arguably top-five free-agent safeties in a pretty deep market at the position.

Amidst all the hurdles to get there, Bates wants to be back.

"Yeah," Bates told our own James Rapien. "Like I said, I've created really close bonds within this whole organization. I've been drafted here. I became a man here. I'd love to be here. Love to be here, but that's out of my control.

"And whatever happens at the end of the day, I can say I love my brothers. like no other. I played my heart out like no other, and that's all you can really control. Like I said, I'll be able to look back on this and learn from it. Have those connections forever."

If Bates doesn't return to Cincinnati, he'll finish his tenure tied for the 27th-most interceptions in team history (10).

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