Dan Campbell shrugs off Jake Bates’ two missed extra points, says kicking is still a process

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said he is not worried about kicker Jake Bates after Bates missed two extra points in a preseason game, according to Yahoo Sports. The remark comes as Detroit continues to sort out specialist reps heading toward the regular season, where the margin between “routine” and “costly” moments is often measured in a single kick.

Bates’ preseason performance drew attention because extra points are typically expected to be near-automatic, and missing them can stand out immediately in a game log. Campbell’s response, as reported, was that he does not view the misses as a sign of a deeper problem. In a preseason environment, Lions staff members have emphasized that work habits, timing, and consistency are built through repetitions rather than evaluated only by one stretch of outcomes.

Kicking in the NFL is not just about leg strength, it is also about process control. That includes setup and timing, communication with the holder and snapper, and managing the rhythm of a kick under varying conditions. Even when results do not show it, teams often treat preseason misses as part of the learning curve that accompanies camp competitions, roster adjustments, and the fine-tuning that happens when coaches chase sharpness rather than perfect conversion rates.

Campbell’s stance fits a common preseason pattern. Coaches typically separate production from fundamentals, looking for the reasons behind the miss instead of allowing the scoreboard to dictate long-term conclusions. For Detroit, that means the evaluation likely centers on how the ball came off the foot, whether the kick’s trajectory and distance were in line with expectations, and whether any mechanical or timing issues are repeatable or isolated.

The key context for the Lions is that kicking is rarely a “set it and forget it” position. Even established kickers can have days where the kick looks different, and teams still work to correct it quickly before the games that carry full weight. Campbell’s message suggests Detroit wants its specialists to stay focused on repeatable cues, not on the emotional impact of one missed moment.

Still, the preseason spotlight does not disappear after a coach says he is not concerned. Bates’ misses will remain part of the internal conversation, and the Lions can be expected to continue monitoring consistency across practice and game reps. In a competition, the next attempt matters because it is often the clearest indicator that a missed kick was a momentary variance rather than a continuing issue.

What to watch next is whether Bates bounces back immediately in subsequent preseason situations and whether Detroit’s staff shows any changes in emphasis, such as different work plans, altered rep structures, or increased attention to timing details during special teams periods. For fans, the story is less about what happened on one kick and more about whether Detroit can turn the process back into clean, dependable execution before September.

For the Lions, it also matters how quickly the kicking unit stabilizes because special teams touches can swing close games. If Bates and the holder-snaps relationship tighten in the remaining preseason work, Detroit can enter the regular season with fewer “unknowns” on a unit that has to perform on demand, including high-pressure conversion situations beyond extra points. As Campbell put it, the misses are not being treated as a crisis, but they are still a reminder of how quickly football can expose small issues.