Kicker decision between Bass /Prater

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

On 10/2/2025 at 10:06 AM, BuffaloBillyG said:

Through 4 games I see no reason to switch back to Bass. And with how he's done here so far this year if we do make the switch and cut Prater, with the way kicking goes around the NFL he will be on another teams roster fairly quickly IMO. I wouldn't risk it. Keep Prater. Give Bass the chance to fully heal. Next year, bring in a kicker to compete with Bass. At the very least it saves wear and tear on his hip.

 

I mean at this point -  he's on IR until prater loses the job.  And he's honestly probably cut next year.  The dead hit plus a late round rookie is still less than he's paid and between previous unreliability, and now availability issues.  It might just be time to let him go elsewhere.  

[RyanC883]

Teams in this situation would always go with the hot hand, who is clearly Prater.  That said, I don’t trust McD here.   I’m hoping him saying Bass will be back when ready means he won’t “be ready” this year.  Keep him in IR as another poster said to fully heal and have a TC competition.  

[BillsFan619]

On 9/30/2025 at 9:27 PM, vanhalen26 said:

I’d go with the longer leg, which I’d figure is Bass by a good margin.

 

Watching warm ups Sunday, praters range was much less than the saints.

 

6 hours ago, Walking Tall said:

I’m good with Bass coming back. I just have a feeling we’ll need someone to nail a key 60 yarder at some point this season. 

I don’t dislike Bass. I was rooting for him last year when he had the yips the first part of the season.
 

That said, knowing there’s a strong chance that we’re playing for the #1 seed as well as the Super Bowl, I think you go with consistency here. I think I saw a stat where Prater is 24 of 25 on game tying or winning field goals in the fourth quarter or overtime in his career. With the game on the line, that’s as good as you can get without being perfect.

 

The last two Chiefs losses in the playoffs have been by three points.

 

Go Bills!

Edited October 3 by BillsFan619

[Don Otreply]

I think we keep Braster as our kicker, 

[thenorthremembers]

Prater has given them no reason to go back to Bass.   Prater is currently 6% higher on made field goals compared to Bass from last year, and 8% higher on XP% compared to Bass from last year.   They really should have moved on from Bass this offseason.    

[BCAS Baritone]

One thing that might keep Bass on IR is I think there is a limit to the number of times a team can move a guy off of IR - I think that number is 8 but I could be wrong.

 

Can't predict the future, but the Bills could have a rash of injuries at some point and might need every one of those moves before the season is out.

 

If Bass is just as good as Prater, then Prater is just as good as Bass.  So what are you gaining by bringing back Bass and dropping Prater?  

[WotAGuy]

Bass has become the Bills’ “break glass in case of emergency”, like Prater sudddenly stinking. 

[Success]

I think Prater has really proven himself.  I think he has had one bad kick since he's been here.  

 

I just have more confidence when he comes out there to kick.  His kicks are usually right down the middle or close to it - Bass's kicks always seem to fade right.

 

[zow2]

Prater popped up on the injury report this week as "limited" with a right calf.  Seems worth noting.

[SectionC3]

On 10/3/2025 at 2:53 PM, RyanC883 said:

Teams in this situation would always go with the hot hand, who is clearly Prater.  That said, I don’t trust McD here.   I’m hoping him saying Bass will be back when ready means he won’t “be ready” this year.  Keep him in IR as another poster said to fully heal and have a TC competition.  

Define “ready.”  Physical? Mental? Or pre prepared to kick in a high leverage game?  Probably all three, and I think McD is done with Bass.  One less headache if he’s not around. 

[milfandcookies]

Just go with Bass. What could go wrong? He never misses a kick with the game on the line!

[Big Turk]

16 minutes ago, SectionC3 said:

Define “ready.”  Physical? Mental? Or pre prepared to kick in a high leverage game?  Probably all three, and I think McD is done with Bass.  One less headache if he’s not around. 

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Big Turk

[BuffaloBillyG]

33 minutes ago, SectionC3 said:

Define “ready.”  Physical? Mental? Or pre prepared to kick in a high leverage game?  Probably all three, and I think McD is done with Bass.  One less headache if he’s not around. 

He's actually said the direct opposite. 

 

Here's the thing, for this year I think the NEED to stick with Prater. They walked into an excellent situation with him being available. But he will be a year older next season. I think Bass factors more into the future. Let him rest and get his head right. Then, in TC next year...make him earn it. Bring in another kicker. Be it Prater again or another guy. The last thing you want is to play musical chairs with the K spot because there are so many bad ones out there. 

[RyanC883]

1 hour ago, zow2 said:

Prater popped up on the injury report this week as "limited" with a right calf.  Seems worth noting.

 

my apologies.  I picked him up in fantasy this week.  

[DJB]

Bass is a liability and unable to make the big kick most of the time. Way too much tendency to miss the big one 

 

Time to cut him create cap space and move on 

[BearNorth]

52 minutes ago, DJB said:

Bass is a liability and unable to make the big kick most of the time. Way too much tendency to miss the big one 

 

Time to cut him create cap space and move on 

Bass has a $6MM dead cap hit after this season. Beginning to wonder why any GM gives a middle of the pack kicker any sort of guarantee.  Aubrey perhaps, - who makes $1MM and has no guaranteed money; but there are a lot of JAG kickers out there.