Bills Coach Sean McDermott Reveals Injury Update for Punter Sam Martin
The Buffalo Bills were fortunate that special teams weren’t a focal point of Monday’s Wild Card Round win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Punter Sam Martin appeared to suffer a hamstring injury chasing down a blocked field goal.
Buffalo went on to win 31-17, but the Divisional Round figures to be much closer. The Bills will host the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in one of the most hotly anticipated games of the season. They don’t yet know whether Martin will be available.
USA TODAY
Bills head coach Sean McDermott gave an update on his starting punter on Friday and spoke about how unique the situation is.
“It’s been slow,” McDermott said. “Just in terms of evaluating a punter is a little bit different than evaluating a position player on a daily basis. So I’m really banking on the feedback he’s giving me and us and the training staff and their communication with me on it.”
Buffalo signed former Bills punter Matt Haack to the practice squad if Martin isn’t at full strength for Sunday.
However, McDermott may have to be more strict with his game-day determinations. Buffalo is unlikely to carry Haack as an insurance option, thus wasting a roster spot that figures to be important in a game as evenly matched as this one. If there’s any doubt about Martin lasting four quarters, Haack will be the next man up.
“Not just for him but the other positions as well -- all the players want to play,” McDermott said. “They want to play in games like this. It’s balancing who can go out there and function at the level that they need to function at for us to play winning football.
“Been around it before where a player gets out there and then at the end of the day they’re not really able to perform the necessary skills to execute the job description. So that’s the sweet spot we’ve got to find from a medical standpoint as well.”
Martin returned to action against Pittsburgh, punting once for 45 yards after suffering his injury. He also continued his duties as a holder.
Continuity for both the punt team and the field goal unit – where Martin holds – would be a nice assurance for McDermott, who has witnessed special teams inconsistencies this season. In all, the unit ranks 15th by defense-adjusted value over average this season.
Bills Mafia hopes Josh Allen’s performance makes the impending special teams decision moot. Kickoff for the Divisional Round Game in Highmark Stadium is set for Sunday at 6:30 (ET).
