Bills Sign Veteran Kicker Matt Prater Amid Tyler Bass Injury Concerns
The Buffalo Bills are making headlines right before their season opener, and it’s not the kind of news fans were hoping for. Their starting kicker, Tyler Bass, has been dealing with pelvic soreness for weeks. He tried to push through it during the preseason, even suiting up in the finale, which gave the team and fans some optimism that he was ready to go. But when the first official injury report of the regular season came out, Bass was listed as a limited participant. That sent up a red flag, especially with such an important position on the line.
To prepare for the possibility that Bass can’t go against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, the Bills signed veteran kicker Matt Prater to their practice squad. And Prater isn’t just any veteran—he’s 41 years old and one of the most experienced legs in the NFL. He spent the past four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals but had his 2024 season cut short by a torn meniscus. Despite the injury, when he did play, he was flawless: six-for-six on field goals, including a long of 57 yards, and ten-for-ten on extra points. That’s the kind of reliability Buffalo needs if Bass can’t line up on Sunday.
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Prater’s résumé speaks for itself. Over an 18-year career that’s included stops with the Falcons, Broncos, Lions, and Cardinals, he’s appeared in 254 games, making over 83% of his field goal attempts and nearly 97% of his extra points. He’s known for having one of the strongest legs in NFL history, holding the league record at one point with a 64-yard field goal. So even though he hasn’t been on a roster since Arizona let him go in March, his track record makes him a trusted option in an emergency.
This move wasn’t made in isolation either. The Bills had already been exploring their kicking depth, bringing in names like Eddy Piñeiro, Zane Gonzalez, and Greg Joseph for tryouts. None were signed, but clearly the team wasn’t convinced Bass’s situation was fully resolved. And for good reason—when you’re opening the season against the Ravens, every point matters.
Interestingly, Buffalo even leaned on running back Ray Davis as an emergency kicker during the preseason when Bass was sidelined. He managed to knock in a field goal and an extra point, which was fun for fans to see, but relying on a running back for kicking duties in real games is far from ideal.
Alongside Prater’s addition, the Bills made a few more roster moves. Linebacker and special teams ace Sam Franklin Jr. was promoted to the active roster, while defensive tackle DeWayne Carter was placed on injured reserve with a season-ending injury.
So, the bottom line? The Bills are gearing up for their primetime showdown with the Ravens, but uncertainty at the kicker position looms large. If Bass can’t go, Matt Prater—one of the oldest and most experienced players in the league—might be called on right away to prove he’s still got it. And in the NFL, games can come down to just one kick.
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