‘With several offensive linemen on the Reserve/Covid list last Sunday, Bates started the first NFL regular season game of his career. He played all 79 offensive snaps and had to move from right guard over to left guard halfway through the game when Ike Boettger suffered a season-ending injury (ruptured achilles). Bates gave up just one pressure on the day and Allen was barely touched all afternoon against the league’s no. 1-rank Patriots defense.’