Jessie Bates and Bengals not expected to reach agreement on extension?

There’s still a month to go until Week 1 of the regular season, but this is a very bad sign for a deal getting done.

Well, this is not the news we wanted to hear today.

According to ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, the Cincinnati Bengals are not expected to reach an agreement with All-Pro safety Jessie Bates on a long-term contract.

“The Bengals and safety Jesse Bates III are not expected to reach a contract extension at this time, per source,” Fowler wrote on Twitter. “Sides not progressing toward a deal. Bates, a 2022 free agent, is a major player coming off three interceptions, 15 pass breakups a year ago.”

It’s unclear if the Bengals and Bates are tabling contract talks or if they’re just going so poorly that there’s little-to-no hope of a deal getting done.

Either way, this is not what the Bengals needed going into a make-or-break year for head coach Zac Taylor. Bates is easily the Bengals’ best player right now, and both sides were very hopeful a deal could be reached.

We will have more on this story shortly…