Antonio Gates is no longer “the guy.”
The future Hall of Fame tight end has rightfully been replaced by 2016 second-round pick Hunter Henry. Gates, who played all 16 games in 2017, finished the season with 30 receptions for 316 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Those numbers were the lowest since Gates’ rookie year (2003). The highlight of his season was passing Tony Gonzalez for the most touchdown catches by a tight end in NFL history.
Gates will turn 38 years old in June. However, he proved that he had something left in the tank after replacing Henry, who was placed on injured reserve with a minor laceration on his kidney, in the starting lineup the last two weeks of the regular season.