Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates set the internet ablaze on Monday Night Football after ESPN cameras caught him in a ‘freaky’ act on the sideline.

Towards the end of their 40-34 win over the San Francisco 49ers, Bates could be seen lying awkwardly on the turf while slowly moving his hips around and poking his tongue out.

And after being left stunned by the Lions star’s raunchy moment, NFL fans lost their minds on social media.

One user commented: ‘what the HELL is your freaky a** doing jake bates’. 

‘They doing my dude dirty lmaoo,’ wrote another.

A third joked: ‘jake bates out here getting his freak on during national TV’.

Lions kicker Jake Bates set the internet ablaze after ESPN cameras caught him in a ‘freaky’ act

WHAT DID ESPN JUST SHOW??pic.twitter.com/RzHtohpJJl

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 31, 2024

Fans lost their minds on social media after seeing Bates’ bizarre position during the game

Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Tempers flare in NFL game as player is violently shoved into crowd before being slapped by rival

‘Put your tongue away bro,’ said a fourth.

‘LOL sticking his tongue out makes it worse,’ another fan agreed.

While one simply admitted: ‘I knew this was gonna be a meme when I saw it’.

Despite how it looked, Bates was actually carrying out a well-known technique to work out a knot in his leg by laying on a softball when he was spotted looking steamy on the sideline.

Yet the moment was such a strange one that ESPN cut to it again after Bates kicked a 42-yard field goal to extend the Lions’ lead on the night.

He helped Detroit (14-2) improve their franchise record for wins in a season as they beat the 49ers (6-10) on the road for the first time since 1975.

Jared Goff threw three touchdown pᴀsses as Dan Campbell’s team tuned up for their pivotal Week 18 division showdown with Minnesota, which will decide who enters the playoffs as the NFC’s top seed.