Bills Sign Veteran Kicker Matt Prater, Could Debut in Season Opener

 

Bills Sign Veteran Kicker Matt Prater, Could Debut in Season Opener

Matt Prater may be 41, but his leg remains one of the strongest in the NFL. Now, he could be called on immediately for the Buffalo Bills’ season opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

Buffalo added Prater to its practice squad Thursday, just as questions mounted around starter Tyler Bass. The Bills officially placed Bass on injured reserve Friday with a hip/groin injury, opening the door for Prater to potentially handle kicking duties on Sunday Night Football.

“He just got in yesterday, I think on a red-eye,” head coach Sean McDermott said Friday. “We’ll watch him today and see how it looks.”

If elevated, Prater would become the oldest player in franchise history at 41 years, 28 days old — surpassing quarterback Bill Munson, who was 38 when he last suited up in 1979.

Before signing Prater, the Bills also worked out veterans Eddy Piñeiro, Zane Gonzalez and Greg Joseph.

A Long-Range Specialist

Prater has been one of the league’s most reliable long-distance kickers, holding the NFL record with 81 career field goals from 50 yards or more — nearly as many as the Bills’ entire franchise history (82). Bass leads Buffalo’s all-time list with 16.

Over his 19-year career, Prater has scored 1,808 points, ranking 15th all time. A two-time Pro Bowler, he has converted 407 field goals overall, including his then-record 64-yarder with Denver in 2013. He owns a 75% career success rate on kicks from 50-plus yards.

Still Consistent at 41

Prater enters Buffalo as the NFL’s second-oldest active player behind Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He’s six years older than offensive coordinator Joe Brady and two decades older than rookie lineman Deone Walker.

Despite his age, Prater remains effective. Last season with the Arizona Cardinals, he went 29-of-33 on field goals, scoring 106 points with four makes from beyond 50 yards, including a 62-yarder.

Arizona released him in March after he opened 2024 strong but later suffered a torn meniscus. The Cardinals turned to Chad Ryland, who earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors in October.

Prater has mostly kicked in favorable environments throughout his career — Denver’s thin air, Detroit’s dome, and Arizona’s retractable roof. Buffalo’s swirling winds, however, will present a new test.

Bass’s Setback

Bass, meanwhile, heads to injured reserve after battling hip and pelvic soreness throughout training camp. He missed nearly three weeks in August but returned for the preseason finale, going 3-for-4 against Tampa Bay.

McDermott said Bass hadn’t suffered a major setback but was “still dealing with soreness.”

During camp, running back Ray Davis even stepped in as an emergency kicker and made an extra point. Rookie Caden Davis also handled preseason duties before being released.

Now, with Bass sidelined, all eyes turn to Prater — and his powerful right leg — to see if he can deliver in prime time.