Bates caught four of five targets for 48 yards over a combined nine regular-season games for Houston and Cleveland in 2025.
Bates spent the first half of the season with the Texans before latching on with the Browns for the second half. While Cleveland often targeted its tight ends, most of those went to Harold Fannin (groin) and David Njoku (knee). Bates will become an exclusive rights free agent and can be brought back for one year at the league minimum.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: No injury designation
Rotowire
Bates logged a full practice Friday and carries no injury designation heading into Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Bates should garner some interest as both Harold Fannin (groin) and David Njoku (knee) having been ruled out for Week 18. Bates and Blake Whiteheart are poised to see more playing time, although practice-squad member Sal Cannella, who led Cleveland's tight ends in targets last week, could steal some thunder if added to the roster for the game.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: Logs full practice Thursday
Rotowire
Bates (shoulder) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
A shoulder injury limited Bates' practice participation Wednesday, but his full session Thursday puts him on track to play against the Bengals on Sunday. The second-year tight end has stepped into a more prominent role in the Browns' offense during the absence of David Njoku (knee/personal), and the former could see even more snaps in Week 18 if rookie Harold Fannin (groin) is unable to play.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: Dealing with shoulder issue
Rotowire
Bates (shoulder) was limited in practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Bates managed an ankle issue earlier in December, but the shoulder injury appears to be something new. The second-year tight end has been seeing more offensive reps of late, logging 53 offensive snaps over the past two weeks and catching one of two targets for 19 yards while David Njoku (knee/personal) has been sidelined. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin (groin) didn't practice Wednesday, and Njoku remained a DNP as well, so Bates could have a path to even more work Week 18 against the Bengals if he's able to suit up.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: Makes first catch for Cleveland
Rotowire
Bates caught his lone target for 19 yards in Sunday's 13-6 win over Pittsburgh in Week 17.
After starting tight end Harold Fannin (groin) was removed from the game late in the first quarter and later ruled out, Bates and Cleveland's other backups got more involved. The reception was Bates' first since joining the Browns in late October. Fannin, who has been a regular on injury reports the last few weeks, is an important piece for the future. As such, the club may want to end his season early, which could lead to more opportunities for Bates, Sal Cannella and Blake Whiteheart in next week's regular-season finale against Cincinnati.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: Ready to go Sunday
Rotowire
Bates (ankle) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bears, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Bates was limited in practice both Wednesday and Thursday, but he was a full participant Friday. He is now ready to play Sunday against the Bears for the first time since Week 12 versus the Raiders. The 26-year-old has had minimal impact on offense when healthy this season, hauling in two receptions on two targets for 23 yards in five games played (three with the Texans and two with the Browns).
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: Logs limited practice to begin week
Rotowire
Bates (ankle) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Bates has missed both of Cleveland's past two games due to an ankle injury. He didn't practice at all each of the previous two weeks, so his ability to log a limited session Wednesday suggests he's showing improvement. When healthy this season, Bates has had a minor role on offense, logging two catches on two targets for 23 yards across five contests (three with the Texans and two with the Browns).
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: Misses practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Bates (ankle) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice.
Bates missed last week's loss to the 49ers, and he's in danger of missing this Sunday's game versus the Titans unless he can return to the practice field by Friday. Even if Bates is able to play, he likely won't factor into the offensive gameplan because David Njoku (knee) is trending towards playing while Harold Fannin has the top spot locked up.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: Out versus San Francisco
Rotowire
Bates (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the 49ers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Bates was injured in last Sunday's win over the Raiders. A deep reserve at tight end, Bates has logged just 41 offensive snaps this season.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: Likely out for Week 13
Rotowire
Bates (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Per Jackson, the Kentucky product is likely out for Sunday's contest against the 49ers after sustaining an ankle injury in the Week 12 win over the Raiders. Bates has appeared in seven games for the Texans and Browns this season, failing to record an offensive stat across 70 total snaps (41 on offense, 29 on special teams).
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: Bound for Cleveland
Rotowire
The Browns claimed Bates off waivers from the Texans on Monday.
Bates was waived by the Texans on Saturday, but he has found a new home in Cleveland, where he'll provide depth at tight end behind David Njoku, Harold Fannin and Blake Whiteheart. Bates appeared in three regular-season games for Houston prior to being waived and logged two catches on as many targets for 23 yards while splitting his snaps between offense and special teams.
... See More... See Less
Texans' Brenden Bates: Practices in full Thursday
Rotowire
Bates (wrist) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.
Bates was limited Wednesday, but his return to full work Thursday puts him on track to play Sunday against the 49ers. The 26-year-old tight end has logged 20 offensive snaps across three appearances this season, snagging two passes for 23 yards.
... See More... See Less
Brenden Bates: Joins Cleveland's practice squad
Rotowire
The Browns signed Bates to their practice squad Friday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Bates couldn't earn a spot on Cleveland's final 53-man roster for 2025, but he'll stay with the club as a member of the practice squad. Over seven games with the Browns and the Jets in 2024, Bates played a total of just 41 offensive snaps.
... See More... See Less
Brenden Bates: Waived by Cleveland
Rotowire
Bates was waived by the Browns on Wednesday.
Bates made it through cutdown day Tuesday but was then one of two players let go to make room for a pair of waiver claims Wednesday. If Bates isn't claimed himself, he could potentially rejoin the organization on the practice squad.
... See More... See Less
Browns' Brenden Bates: Poached by Cleveland
Rotowire
The Browns signed Bates off the Jets' practice squad Wednesday.
Bates suited up for five games with New York early in the season, before bumping down to the team's practice squad mid-October. The undrafted rookie out of Kentucky is still looking for an opportunity to log his first career catch in the NFL.
... See More... See Less
Brenden Bates: Let go by Jets
Rotowire
The Jets waived Bates on Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Bates was claimed off waivers by the Jets in late August after the undrafted tight end was unable to make the Bears' 53-man roster at the end of training camp. Bates was a healthy scratch in Week 1, but he has played in each of the Jets' last five regular-season games and has contributed on both offense and special teams, though he has not recorded a stat over that span. Assuming he clears waivers, Bates will look to join a team in need of tight end depth.
