The Buffalo Bills, a team synonymous with resilience and high expectations, have sent shockwaves through the NFL with their recent moves at the kicker position. Tyler Bass, the team’s starting kicker since 2020, finds his future in Buffalo hanging by a thread as the Bills have actively explored replacements amid his ongoing injury struggles and inconsistent performance. With the 2025 season looming, the team’s decision to audition new kickers has sparked intense speculation about whether Bass’s days in Orchard Park are numbered.
A Rocky Road for Tyler Bass
Tyler Bass, a sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, quickly established himself as a reliable force for the Bills. His powerful leg, honed through years of soccer and football at Dutch Fork High School and Georgia Southern, earned him the starting role over veteran Stephen Hauschka in his rookie season. Bass’s early career was marked by standout moments, including a franchise-record 61-yard field goal against the Miami Dolphins in 2024 and setting a Bills record for most field goals attempted (8) and made (6) in a single game against the New York Jets in 2020. His 2023 four-year, $21 million contract extension underscored Buffalo’s confidence in him as their long-term solution at kicker.
However, the 2024-25 season has been a different story. Bass has been plagued by a pelvic injury that sidelined him for most of training camp, limiting his ability to prove his consistency. His performance last season was already under scrutiny, with a 24/29 field goal success rate (82.8%) and a critical miss in the 2023-24 Divisional Round against the Kansas City Chiefs—a 44-yard attempt that echoed the infamous “Wide Right” moment in Bills history. This miss, coupled with fan backlash and reported death threats that led Bass to deactivate his social media accounts, painted a picture of a kicker under immense pressure.
This season, Bass’s struggles have continued. He’s converted only 75% of his field goals (9/12) and 90% of his extra points, numbers that fall short of the modern NFL’s expectations for kickers, where 40-49 yard attempts are considered routine. A particularly ugly extra-point miss against the Jets, allegedly blocked, and a shanked 27-yard field goal attempt against the Steelers further fueled doubts about his reliability.
The Bills’ Bold Response
Faced with Bass’s inconsistency and ongoing injury concerns, the Bills have taken decisive action. Reports indicate that the team recently held tryouts for kickers Eddy Piñeiro, Zane Gonzalez, and Greg Joseph, signaling that they are not fully committed to Bass as their starter for the upcoming season. This follows a pattern from last October when the Bills briefly signed another kicker, only to release them days later after Bass showed resilience. However, this time feels different. The team’s decision to have backup running back Ray Davis attempt extra points in a preseason game against the Giants, while Bass was sidelined, raised eyebrows and hinted at a lack of confidence in his immediate availability.
The signing of Caden Davis to a one-year contract and the earlier addition of Lucas Havrisik to the practice squad in 2024 further underscore Buffalo’s urgency to address the kicker position. Havrisik, who went 15/20 on field goals with the LA Rams, was released after Bass showed signs of improvement, including a clutch 61-yard game-winner against Miami. Yet, the recent auditions suggest that the Bills are still hedging their bets, unwilling to rely solely on Bass’s recovery and mental fortitude.
General Manager Brandon Beane has been candid about the situation, emphasizing the NFL’s performance-driven nature. “T Bass would be the first to tell you, it hasn’t gone the way he would like it – and quite frankly, the way we like it,” Beane said. “We want nothing more than Tyler to be our guy… but it is a production business.” This statement, paired with the team’s actions, paints a stark picture: Bass’s job is on the line.
Financial and Strategic Implications
Cutting or trading Bass is not a straightforward decision. His 2023 contract extension carries a significant $7.38 million dead cap hit if he’s released before the season, a hefty price for a team already navigating tight salary cap constraints. Even a post-season release would result in a $3.06 million hit, making it a costly move. Trading Bass is equally challenging—his recent performance and high salary make him an unlikely candidate for other teams to pursue. The Bills’ experience with trading Stefon Diggs, absorbing a $31 million dead cap hit, shows they’re willing to make bold financial moves, but the kicker position may not warrant such a gamble.
Moreover, replacing Bass is easier said than done. Available free-agent kickers, such as those recently auditioned, have comparable or worse stats than Bass. For instance, Havrisik’s 75% field goal accuracy last season mirrors Bass’s struggles, and finding a proven, elite kicker on the open market is rare. The Bills’ exploration of undrafted free agent Harrison Mevis, known for a 61-yard game-winner in college but with an 8% field goal rate in his final season, highlights the limited options available.
Fan Sentiment and the Mental Game
The Bills Mafia, known for their passionate support, has been vocal about Bass’s struggles. Social media campaigns have oscillated between calls for his release and rallies to boost his confidence, such as encouraging loud cheers at Highmark Stadium to help him overcome the “yips.” After his 61-yard heroics against Miami, fans donated $6 to the Ten Lives Club, an animal adoption organization, as a show of support. Yet, the same fanbase that celebrated his game-winner has not forgotten the heartbreak of his playoff miss against Kansas City, with some drawing parallels to Scott Norwood’s infamous “Wide Right” in 1991.
Kicking is a notoriously mental position, and Bass has acknowledged the pressure. After the Havrisik signing, he told WGRZ, “It’s a results-based league, and at the end of the day you’ve gotta just keep putting in your work and control what you can control.” His emotional response after the Miami win, where he was seen crying in the locker room alongside Josh Allen, underscores the toll this season has taken. Allen’s staunch defense—“He’s our guy”—and head coach Sean McDermott’s decision to award Bass the game ball reflect the team’s desire to see him succeed, but their actions suggest they’re preparing for all possibilities.
What’s Next for Bass and the Bills?
The Bills’ recent kicker tryouts are a clear message: Bass must regain his form quickly, or the team may be forced to make a difficult decision. The auditions could be a precautionary measure to ensure depth while Bass recovers, but they also signal a lack of full confidence in his ability to return to his 2021-22 form, when he boasted an 87% field goal accuracy.
For Bass, the path forward involves not only physical recovery but also overcoming the mental hurdles that have plagued him since last season’s playoff miss. His franchise-record 61-yard kick shows he still has the talent, but consistency will be key. The Bills, meanwhile, face a delicate balance: stick with a proven but struggling kicker or take a risk on an untested replacement, all while managing a tight salary cap and lofty Super Bowl aspirations.
As the 2025 season approaches, all eyes will be on Tyler Bass. Can he silence the doubters and reclaim his role as Buffalo’s reliable kicker, or will the Bills’ bold move to audition new talent mark the beginning of the end for his tenure in Orchard Park? Only time—and a few crucial kicks—will tell.