Kicker decision between Bass /Prater

[GunnerBill]

12 hours ago, HardyBoy said:

 

Didn't he kick in game 1? Maybe they have to be on the roster at the start of week 1 and he signed that Thursday after the week started?

 

It would make sense they waited to avoid the guarantee, but he played week 1...

 

He kicked game 1 but as a practice squad elevation. He wasn't signed until the active roster until week 2.

[The Firebaugh Kid]

On 10/1/2025 at 6:57 AM, Mailman said:

For the first time in several years, I dont stress when Prater trots out for the kick. 

That tells you everything you need to know. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

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.

[PromoTheRobot]

On 9/18/2025 at 11:49 PM, PayDaBill$ said:

Idk but that was a horrendous kick tonight 

 

If you expect machine perfection from kickers good luck.

[Boatdrinks]

18 hours ago, HardyBoy said:

 

Didn't he kick in game 1? Maybe they have to be on the roster at the start of week 1 and he signed that Thursday after the week started?

 

It would make sense they waited to avoid the guarantee, but he played week 1...

Not disputing that he played week 1, but he was practice squad initially 

[HardyBoy]

7 hours ago, GunnerBill said:

 

He kicked game 1 but as a practice squad elevation. He wasn't signed until the active roster until week 2.

 

1 hour ago, Boatdrinks said:

Not disputing that he played week 1, but he was practice squad initially 

 

Thank you! Didn't realize he was elevated for week 1!

[JP51]

I think activating Bass from IR would obviously be the first step... you have got to think he should be ready by now and activated... but maybe not... my gut is as long as Prater is kicking well Bass stays and they dont use an activation move... If Prater faulters... then all bets are off.. jmo... 

[Allen2Moulds]

Last night Sal was on wgr and said that the way McDermott spoke, they're going back to Bass, once he's ready. That's a big mistake in my opinion.

We don't need a big leg, we need someone that we can trust.

[zow2]

If Bass is lining up a 47 yarder on a breezy, cold winter night in late January to beat KC and go to the Super Bowl,  I'd have zero confidence.  Sorry. 

 

I'd call Dallas and offer a 2nd round pick for Aubrey today to lock that position down,, I'm not kidding.  If that's the difference between the Bills making the SB or not at all, I don't care about the draft picks.

[billsfan89]

On 9/19/2025 at 12:37 AM, JGMcD2 said:

Honestly, unless our kicker goes 50/50 from 50+ yards, people here are gonna overreact no matter what. MVP Mark Moseley could be kicking and folks would still cry about it.

 

Bass has a higher career FG% than four-time Super Bowl champ and three-time All-Pro Adam Vinatieri, for *****’s sake. 

 

What the ***** else do we want? He missed a couple XPs and FGs - it ***** happens.

 

The issue with Bass was that he was so piss poor at times where he just really felt very unreliable even when he was making shots they always felt like they would barely squeak in. But then Bass would go on hot streaks and hit kicks solidly and consistently. Prater feels more stable but I am not sure his range at his age is what it used to be. I personally would rather have a Prater type kicker whose going to have more stability under 50 than Bass whose got longer range but is more volatile. 

[ddaryl]

I've seen enough of Bass to never feel confident when he is kicking FGs.

Prater has the one horrible kick but like mentioned above he gets the mulligan for that one.

I would prefer Prater based on what I have witnessed with Bass, but the sample size is small 

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

22 minutes ago, zow2 said:

If Bass is lining up a 47 yarder on a breezy, cold winter night in late January to beat KC and go to the Super Bowl,  I'd have zero confidence.  Sorry. 

 

I'd call Dallas and offer a 2nd round pick for Aubrey today to lock that position down,, I'm not kidding.  If that's the difference between the Bills making the SB or not at all, I don't care about the draft picks.

I am truly stunned at Aubrey. This guy was just a soccer player off the street basically, and has turned himself into possibly one of the greatest NFL kickers ever. Even his kickoffs are so pinpoint accurate, it’s absurd.

[Albany,n.y.]

1 minute ago, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I am truly stunned at Aubrey. This guy was just a soccer player off the street basically, and has turned himself into possibly one of the greatest NFL kickers ever. Even his kickoffs are so pinpoint accurate, it’s absurd.

...and that's why Dallas would not even listen to any trade offers.  I can't wait until the trade deadline so all these pie in the sky trades that people come up with stop.  

[zow2]

1 hour ago, billsfan89 said:

 

The issue with Bass was that he was so piss poor at times where he just really felt very unreliable even when he was making shots they always felt like they would barely squeak in. But then Bass would go on hot streaks and hit kicks solidly and consistently. Prater feels more stable but I am not sure his range at his age is what it used to be. I personally would rather have a Prater type kicker whose going to have more stability under 50 than Bass whose got longer range but is more volatile. 

 

I trust Prater but anything beyond 45 yards to me is dicey with him.  The leg is not as strong as it used to be.  But i'll say this, his mechanics seem great.  Most of his kicks are perfectly straight.  They don't have the draw or slice.  Bass often pushes his kicks right and sometimes barely stay inside the goalpost.

[mannc]

On 10/1/2025 at 3:57 AM, Mailman said:

For the first time in several years, I dont stress when Prater trots out for the kick. 

Until this year, I never really cared about Prater…

[Walking Tall]

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. 

[Allen2Moulds]

My trust issue with Bass is so low, that if we needed an extra point to tie or win the game, I would still be nervous. He's the furthest thing from automatic. 

[billsfan89]

10 minutes ago, zow2 said:

 

I trust Prater but anything beyond 45 yards to me is dicey with him.  The leg is not as strong as it used to be.  But i'll say this, his mechanics seem great.  Most of his kicks are perfectly straight.  They don't have the draw or slice.  Bass often pushes his kicks right and sometimes barely stay inside the goalpost.

 

I don't get dicey on Prater until he gets past the low 50's. 50-52 I think he's got the leg to hit those pretty consistently, 53+ that's going to be a harder sell for me, he's probably not going to be able to even attempt anything much past 55.

[Warriorspikes51]

Just now, billsfan89 said:

 

I don't get dicey on Prater until he gets past the low 50's. 50-52 I think he's got the leg to hit those pretty consistently, 53+ that's going to be a harder sell for me, he's probably not going to be able to even attempt anything much past 55.

 

what are we talking about here?  Prater is #1 all time in % make over 50 yards

he has a 52 yarder this year.  Last year he hit from 57.  62 in 2023

[billsfan89]

2 minutes ago, Warriorspikes51 said:

 

what are we talking about here?  Prater is #1 all time in % make over 50 yards

he has a 52 yarder this year.  Last year he hit from 57.  62 in 2023

 

He's also 41 and coming off a torn knee. His leg is still good but he looks to not have the power he once did pre-injury at age 40.