Tyler Bass landed on injured reserve shortly before the start of the Bills’ season. The veteran kicker is set to remain sidelined through the end of the campaign without seeing any game time. 
Head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg) Bass recently underwent surgery. As a result, his season has essentially come to an end. A lingering hip/groin issue has resulted in this absence, one which appears as though it will stretch through the playoffs.
As of October, McDermott was unsure of whether or not Bass would be able to suit up at any point in 2025. The team previously thought the ailment was improving, but in the end surgery has been deemed necessary. With the procedure having taken place, Bass will turn his attention to recovery in preparation for the 2026 season.
The 28-year-old has served as Buffalo’s kicker from 2020-24, missing only one game during that span. Bass’ field goal success rates have never topped the league, but they have remained consistent over the course of his career. Overall, the former sixth-rounder has connected on 84.5% of his field goal attempts and all but 10 of his 274 extra point tries. Bass is under contract through 2027 thanks to the $5.1MM-per-year extension he signed in 2023.
That pact does not contain any remaining guarantees in terms of base salary, however. Coming off a full season spent on the sidelines, it will be interesting to see if the Bills explore the possibility of moving on from Bass (or at least attempt to work out a pay cut agreement). In any case, his replacement will be counted on to continue handling kicking duties the rest of the way.
Matt Prater has operated as Buffalo’s kicker all season. The 41-year-old has already missed three extra point attempts, but with respect to field goals he has gone 17-for-19. No indication has been made that McDermott and the Bills are looking for another option at this point, so it will be Prater tasked with continuing his performance down the stretch.
The team thought he was fine – right up until the last minute.
This entire situation was weird.
“This entire situation was weird”
Any situation involving bass is going to smell fishing 🙂
This might have a little bit to do with the fact that the job is now Prater’s. He’s been better than Bass was.