The Buffalo Bills are heading into the playoffs, confronting one of the thorniest roster dilemmas of the Sean McDermott era as they figure out how to manage a kicking game that has been beset by injuries and inconsistency at the worst possible time.
Longtime kicker Tyler Bass, who had been Buffalo‘s primary scorer since 2020, has been shut down for the remainder of the 2025 season after undergoing surgery to address nagging hip and groin issues.
With Bass unavailable, the Bills leaned on veteran Matt Prater, a 19-year NFL veteran who has been dependable when healthy, converting 18 of 20 field goals and 46 of 49 extra points for Buffalo this season.
But now Prater is dealing with his own injury, a right quadriceps issue that re-emerged late in the regular season, leaving him “week-to-week” and unavailable for at least the Bills‘ Week 16 game.
That has thrust Buffalo into an uncomfortable predicament just days before the start of the postseason.
McDermott didn’t mince words when addressing reporters about the kicker situation, saying that there was a”delicate balance” with roster spots, he said, alluding to the limitations teams face in activating only 48 players on game day.
Adding a second kicker to serve as insurance against another injury would mean sacrificing depth elsewhere, a decision with ripple effects on special teams and beyond.
“We’ve got positions where we’re concerned that a player can make it through,” McDermott told reporters.
“We’ve got some guys coming off injury that are playing their first game [back] this weekend for us, and unfortunately, there just aren’t enough extra spots to go around to add insurance to the multiple positions you’d like to.”
Bills scramble for kicker options as postseason looms
With Prater‘s status uncertain, the Bills signed veteran Matthew Wright to their practice squad, giving the team another potential option should they decide to elevate him for a game.
The move required Buffalo to release offensive tackle Richard Gouraige, illustrating the tough roster decisions McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane are making in real time.
Before Wright, the Bills had also tried things out with Michael Badgley in December, though that stint was brief and included multiple missed extra points.
Kicker Maddux Trujillo was signed to a reserve/future contract, a strategic move that secures his rights for next season but doesn’t impact the current campaign.
Adding to the uncertainty, recent reports indicate the Bills have explored the idea of bringing in other kickers, including potential options like former Pro Bowl veteran Matt Gay, a reflection of the urgency and the difficulty in finding a proven remedial option on short notice.
Buffalo‘s high-powered offense has minimized its reliance on field goals this season, frequently opting to go for it on fourth down, but the cold weather and tighter playoff games make a reliable kicker invaluable.
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