Veteran Matt Prater Steps In as Bills Kicker After Bass Injury
The Buffalo Bills were dealt some tough news just ahead of their season opener. Tyler Bass, their reliable placekicker, has been placed on injured reserve with a left hip and groin injury. That move was announced on Friday, and it means Bass will miss at least the first four games of the season, including the highly anticipated Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Bass had been limited during practice earlier in the week, but as soreness lingered, he was unable to participate on Thursday or Friday. Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that the injury had been bothering him, which left the team with no choice but to sideline him. For a team that often leans on its special teams unit to finish drives, this is no small setback.
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But as one door closes, another opens. To cover Bass’s absence, the Bills are turning to a familiar name in the NFL world—Matt Prater. The veteran kicker was signed to Buffalo’s practice squad earlier this week, and now he is in line to handle kicking duties starting Sunday. All the team needs to do is make the formal move of elevating him to the active roster before the league deadline.
Prater is far from a stopgap. With nearly two decades of NFL experience, he has built a reputation as one of the most reliable long-range kickers the league has ever seen. In fact, he holds the record for the most field goals made from at least 50 yards—an incredible 81 of them. His career includes booming kicks of 62 and 64 yards, the kind of leg strength that immediately changes the way defenses approach field position. Over the course of his career, he has connected on 407 of 487 field goal attempts, a strong 83.6% success rate.
It’s worth noting that while Prater was added as insurance, his presence brings a level of security that few emergency signings can match. The Bills now know that even if drives stall out around midfield, they have a kicker who has consistently proven he can deliver from deep.
Still, Bass’s absence is being felt. He has been a steady contributor since entering the league, and the team will be eager to get him healthy and back on the field as soon as possible. For now, though, Buffalo fans will be watching Prater’s debut closely. The moment he steps on the field, he’ll officially set a franchise record—becoming the most experienced kicker ever to take the field for the Bills.
So, as the Bills prepare to open their season against the Ravens, a new chapter begins for their special teams unit. Tyler Bass will be sidelined, but in his place, one of the league’s most proven veterans will get the call. And with Matt Prater’s track record, the Bills might just find that their kicking game remains in very capable hands.
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