All-Pro Safety Says He'd "Love To" Return To Cincinnati Bengals In 2023

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates said he'd "love to" return to the team in 2023.

Bates was franchise tagged by the Bengals for the 2022 season, and will once again hit free agency.

An emotional Jessie Bates realizes Sunday might have been his last with Bengals. pic.twitter.com/CtTopXpE0s

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) January 30, 2023

Bates has spent his first five seasons with the Bengals after the team drafted him in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft, playing 79 games, recording 478 total tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 14 interceptions and 43 passes defended.

Bates was a Second-team All-Pro in 2020 and will be a highly sought-after safety in the free-agent market this offseason. 

We'll have to wait and see if the Bengals can make a deal happen to bring him back to Cincinnati.
Photo Credit: Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK