This is the fifth in a 10-part series of questions facing the Buffalo Bills as they head into training camp at St. John Fisher University.
If Tyler Bass had known the Buffalo Bills were going to sign edge rusher Bradley Chubb in free agency, he would have been wise to hold off on relinquishing his No. 2 jersey so quickly to wide receiver DJ Moore.
He could have conducted a bidding war and pocketed a nice little bonus if both newcomers were adamant about purchasing No. 2 from the man who has worn it in Buffalo since 2020.
Alas, that did not happen. Moore joined the team March 11. Chubb arrived March 12 and, because he wore No. 2 with the Dolphins, was asked whether Bass had set a price for the number.
“Oh no, I’m already out of the running,” Chubb said with a smile shortly after he signed his free agent contract. “I got No. 9 so I’m good. That was my college number, I feel like it’s my ninth year and it’s all coming full circle.”
It’s unknown what Moore had to give up for No. 2, but Bass’ switch to No. 16 is the least of his concerns heading into the start of training camp as he tries to return to form after missing all of 2025 due to hip and groin injuries that required surgery.
According to Rotowire, the Bills lost 246 regular-season man games to injury last season which was the fifth-highest total in the league, and 17 of those belonged to Bass.
He first felt pain in training camp, tried to work through it and actually kicked in the preseason finale at Tampa Bay, making 3 of 4 field goals and both of his extra points.
But his discomfort returned in the days after the game and when things were not improving as the season opener against Baltimore approached, the team put him on injured reserve and signed 41-year-old free agent Matt Prater.
It could have been a bad outcome for Buffalo because in his first five seasons Bass made 84.5% of his field goal attempts which ranks 29th in NFL history, and 96.4% of his extra points which ranks 13th among active kickers who now have to attempt the try from 33 yards out.
But Prater stepped in and drilled a game-winner as time expired opening night to beat the Ravens, went on to make 18 of 20 field goals and 46 of 49 extra points, then made all 11 kicks he attempted in the postseason including a game-tying 50-yarder with five seconds remaining to send the Denver game to overtime. It was about as good a relief job as the Bills could have dreamed.
“Just grateful for the experience,” Prater said on the day the Bills cleaned out their lockers after losing the Broncos game, knowing his time with the team was likely done. “Got to come out here, short notice, be a part of this team, this organization that is, in my opinion, the best place I’ve ever been – top to bottom. Enjoyed every bit of it, and I’m sad it’s over.”
Prater has not signed with a new team but he hasn’t announced his retirement, either. Brandon Beane said back in February that he expects Bass to return as good as new and be the Bills kicker at least through the end of his contract in 2027 and perhaps well beyond, but he has Prater in his iPhone contacts just in case.
Buffalo Bills will have a competition at punter
Bass’ performance this summer will be interesting to track, as will the punting competition between veteran Mitch Wishnowsky and rookie seventh-round pick Tommy Doman.
Like Prater, Wishnowsky rescued the Bills last season after they rolled through Brad Robbins and Cameron Johnston in the first month. Wishnowsky signed before the Week 5 Patriots game and stabilized the position for the rest of the season. His performance was mostly league average, but he got the job done.
The Bills re-signed him for 2026, but did so figuring they would pick someone in the draft and that turned out to be Doman.
Doman began his college career at Michigan, then transferred to Florida for his final two seasons. Last year he averaged 44 yards per punt, had only six touchbacks and forced 17 fair catches with 17 punts downed inside the 20.
“Tommy was a guy that we had on our draft board, and as Joe (has) said, we’re looking for depth and competition everywhere,” Beane said at the end of the draft. “Mitch is a proven guy here. We wanted to go to camp with two punters, that’s our plan.”
Sean McDermott placed heavy emphasis on the kicking game and new head coach Joe Brady needs to do the same. The first step would be making sure Bass is good as new, and the next would be choosing the right punter.
Sal Maiorana has covered the Buffalo Bills for more than four decades including 37 years as the full-time beat writer/columnist for the D&C. He has written numerous books about the history of the team, and he is also co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast/YouTube show. He can be reached at maiorana@gannett.com, and you can follow him on X @salmaiorana and on Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills newcomers wanted Tyler Bass’ number, now the team needs his leg
Reporting by Sal Maiorana, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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By Sal Maiorana, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
