Bills kicker Tyler Bass was signed to an extension a year and a half ago, but Buffalo may be having a bit of buyer’s remorse. Some recent inaccuracies have made many question his standing as the Bills’ kicker of the future, though the team has claimed that they don’t have any intention to replace him. That tune may be changing as Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that the Bills worked out kickers Anders Carlson and Cade York today. 
Bass has been nothing if not consistent. In his first three seasons, Bass missed four field goals attempts in each regular season. He upped that to five misses in 2023. His rookie season saw him miss two field goals and an extra point attempt in the playoffs, and his second trip to the postseason the next year saw him miss two more extra point attempts. He cleaned it up with a perfect postseason in 2022, though he didn’t attempt a kick over 40 yards, but 2023 saw him miss three postseason field goal attempts, including one late in the team’s divisional round loss to the Chiefs.
Just over two weeks ago, Bills general manager Brandon Beane was telling the media that the team was not considering adding competition to the special teams room for Bass. Nonetheless, we had thoughts that any early struggles might lead to some interest in other options on the free agent market. Five days after watching Bass log his first miss of the season, in come Carlson and York.
As a sixth-round rookie last year for the Packers, Carlson likely doesn’t inspire confidence for an increase in accuracy. In 2023, Carlson missed six field goals and five extra points, and as a result, was waived before the start of this year. A fourth-round pick in 2022, York missed eight field goals in his rookie season and two extra points, as well, for the Browns. He started the season as the kicker for Washington but was waived after missing both of his only field goal attempts in Week 1.
It’s not quite clear why the Bills aren’t more interested in adding veteran competition like free agents Brandon McManus or Randy Bullock, instead opting for young, inaccurate legs, but what’s important to note is that they’re bringing in competition at all. The Bills might still have confidence in Bass moving forward, but at the very least, they’re bringing in some other names to light a fire under their current kicker.
I think it’s worth noting they brought guys in who if eventually signed to the practice squad wouldn’t be veterans as each team has less of those open spots.
Good call.
I think Brandon deen might be the next guy off and he wont qualify as a veteran spot.
It seems Madden neglected to say “If you have 2 kickers, you have none”.
The kicker would the strongest leg (Kareem Hunt) signed with KC.
The Bills do NOT want a practice squad kicker. This is an attempt to scare Bass straight in the head. They really can’t afford to cut him this year. He was paid a pretty penny and the Bills are very serious about making things work with Tyler. But he has to get his issues sorted.