Jake Bates secured the Lions' kicker job with his performance against the Chiefs

After Michael Badgley's season-ending injury, it seemed like a formality that the Detroit Lions would add a second kicker. Perhaps to get through training camp and three preseason games, or perhaps as real competition for Jake Bates. The four kickers they brought in to practice immediately after Badgley's injury were definitely on the “training camp leg” side.

About a week after becoming the only kicker on the roster, Bates raised questions about his status, as he must have pushed the Lions to potentially sign another kicker. But head coach Dan Campbell told reporters that Bates had been told he would get a chance to speak, and in the season-opening game against the Giants, he made a 53-yard field goal in rainy weather.

Bates then completed good practice days last Sunday and Monday and seemed to have the job under control.

Dave Fipp, the Lions' special teams coach, had a plausible explanation for not using a second kicker. Essentially, Bates, not unlike Hendon Hooker at quarterback, needs the necessary reps.

“I think a lot of it is repetition,” Fipp said. “And that kind of hurt him in the beginning; he didn't have the whole offseason with us. We brought him in right after the offseason ended (minicamp and OTAs) … he practiced a little bit, but not that much.”

On Wednesday of last week, according to reporters on site, Bates again appeared unpredictable and raised new questions.

In the first half of Saturday's game against the Chiefs, Bates appeared to seal the Lions' kickoff position with a 55-yard field goal that would have been good from much further away.

After Nate Sudfeld missed a 61-yard touchdown to wide receiver Kade Davis, Bates missed the extra point, turning the tide against him. And the rollercoaster ride that accompanied his exploits during training camp continued.

MLive's Ben Raven summed things up nicely from a reporter's perspective after the missed PAT.

“Extra point missed, welcome to the Jake Bates camp experience we had. The talent is there but so inconsistent.”

Bates kicked a 23-yard field goal late in the first half and began to redeem his performance.

Saturday's missed extra point is the latest evidence of the inconsistency with which the Lions have decided to let Bates work through.

Bates scored a 32-yard field goal in the third quarter, recovering a little more from the missed extra point.

Bates secured the Lions' kicking job with a game-winning 43-yard field goal after a rollercoaster first half. Not only with a 4-for-4 field goal performance, but also with his short memory after missing an extra point.