The Bengals used the franchise tag on Bates in April, and the free safety was not able to come to an agreement on a long-term contract by the deadline to do so earlier this month.
Now it appears he will be holding out of team activities for the unforeseeable future, as some players on the franchise tag do because of the risk of injury without the financial security of a long-term contract.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor on Monday during the organization’s annual pre-camp media luncheon said he could not predict if or when Bates would show up, but indicated confidence the star free safety will be “ready to go” when he does.
Bates hasn’t signed his $12.9 million franchise tender and thus isn’t subject to fines for his absence, as Pelissero reported.
The Bengals play their first of three preseason games Aug. 12 against the Arizona Cardinals and the regular-season kicks off Sept. 11 against Pittbsurgh.
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