The Buffalo Bills are heading into the new season with one of the worst kinds of surprises:their trusted kicker is out. On Friday, the team announced that Tyler Basshas been placed on injured reserve with hip and groin issues, sidelining him for at least the first four games.
The timing couldn’t sting more. Buffalo opens its 2025 campaign Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens-a prime-time matchup that’s already drawing heavy attention with both teams pegged as Super Bowl contenders.
The Bills wasted no time in finding a replacement. On Thursday, they brought in 41-year-old Matt Prater, a veteran kicker with nearly two decades of NFL experience, to hold down the job while Bass recovers.
A Trusted Leg Sidelined
Bass has been Buffalo’s steady presence on special teams since 2020, when he unseated longtime veteran Stephen Hauschka. Over the past four seasons, he’s built a reputation for clutch kicking and long-range power-highlighted by his franchise-record 61-yard field goal last November against the Miami Dolphins. Last season alone, Bass connected on 24 of 29 field goals and hit 59 of 64 extra-point tries.
Losing him for any stretch is a big deal for a Bills team that prides itself on precision in close games.
Enter Matt Prater
Prater may be closer to retirement age than rookie camp, but the man can still boom a football. The former Bronco, Lion, and most recently Cardinal owns the NFL record for most career field goals of 50 yards or more. His resume gives Buffalo a sense of insurance-even if the 2024 season ended early for him after a torn meniscus in Arizona.
The Bills haven’t officially activated Prater as of Friday afternoon, but all signs point to him being elevated to the 53-man roster before kickoff.
What It Means for Buffalo
Bass could return as early as Week 5 against New England, though hip and groin injuries are notoriously tricky for kickers. For now, Buffalo has to roll with a short-term solution and hope Prater can deliver in high-leverage moments.
Meanwhile, Sunday night’s matchup with Baltimore only grows in intrigue. Lamar Jackson and newly-acquired Derrick Henry lead a Ravens squad bent on revenge after last year’s playoff exit in Buffalo. With two AFC contenders clashing under the lights, every kick may matter-and the Bills will be counting on Prater to make them count.
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