Bills' K Tyler Bass' Bloated Contract Makes Preseason Debut More Critical

Bass' injuries coupled with his current contract make his preseason important to evaluate.

Jan. 12, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass (2) kicks an extra-point try during the fourth quarter of a past AFC wild-card game against the Denver Broncos at the old Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Buffalo Bills veteran kicker Tyler Bass has had a rough stretch—both on the field and off it—since signing a four-year extension with the Bills in April 2023 that was worth up to $21 million and included $12.3 million in guarantees.

At the time, it appeared as if Buffalo had just locked down one of the premier young kickers in the National Football League at a reasonable rate. 

Bass—a former 2020 sixth-round pick of the Bills out of Georgia Southern University—had just registered back-to-back years of making above 87% of his field goals in 2022 and 2023. StatMuse’s database says that the NFL average for kickers was around 85% for field goals made during those seasons.

So, the decision to secure Bass' services seemed to be a good idea by team president of football operations/general manager Brandon Beane.

Nov. 3, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills place kicker Tyler Bass (2) celebrates with former Bills punter Sam Martin (8) after making a 61-yard field goal to take the lead over the Miami Dolphins in the fourth quarter of a past NFL game at the old Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images | USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Connect

Buffalo’s contract for Bass appears bloated after recent struggles on and off the field

From that moment on, however, the contract’s shine has worn off.

Once revered by fans, Bass' previously deemed “golden leg” is no longer adored by Bills Mafia like the leg lamp sitting in the window of the famous holiday movie “A Christmas Story”.

Why?

Well, immediately following his extension, Bass' field goal percentage dropped to 82.8%, below the league average. His percentage on extra-points made dropped, as well, as he went from making 98% in 2023 to a measly 92.2% of his extra points in 2024.

In the postseason, he made just 8-of-11 of his kicks, and he also missed a potential game-tying 44-yard field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs with 1:47 remaining in the fourth quarter of the AFC divisional round on January 21, 2024.

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass (2) walks off the field after missing what would have been a game-tying field goal in a 27-24 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs in 2024. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Bills' Kicker 'T. Bass' hasn’t been good enough 

Simply put, Bass hasn’t been good enough. 

And, last year’s hip/groin/pelvic ailment that required sports-hernia surgery—which landed him on injured reserve for the 2025 season—was just the cherry on top of his most recent mishaps.

"I wouldn't say it was a relief, but it was just . . . I finally had an answer to the problem," Bills’ kicker Tyler Bass said when speaking to reporters at training camp.

"I knew it was (going to) be hard—the recovery—and it was hard to get out of bed for a couple of weeks, but—once I got through that—I showed myself, and my body, that I can kind of do anything."

Buffalo Bills placekicker Tyler Bass watches as the back-up punter Brad Robbins kicks a few balls at Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University in Pittsford, New York, last summer on July 31, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

No 2026 Training Camp Competition for Bass

Now that the seventh-year veteran is back to being fully healthy again, the team appears dead set on Bass being their kicker for the upcoming 2026 campaign.

Heck, there’s not even any competition in training camp so far, which hasn’t always been the case in past seasons even when Bass wasn’t coming off a terrible stretch of play or a questionable injury situation.

Learning From Kicker Matt Prater

The injury recovery process to get here has been long.

Buffalo Bills veteran kicker Tyler Bass hits a few balls through the goal posts before the start of last year's "Return of the Blue & Red" practice at the old Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Aug.1, 2025. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

"It was tough. (It was) a situation I've never been in: being injured. But, (I’m) really grateful for how (everyone) kind of handled it, and I'm grateful for Prater coming in (last season),” Bass said regarding his 2025 replacement, veteran Matt Prater.

“He did a great job, and I learned a lot from just being around him. It was tough. But, you just want to get back out there . . . we're just grateful to be here.”

Buffalo’s current top—and only—option at the position mysteriously didn’t start kicking much to begin training camp at St. John Fisher University earlier this summer, at least not within visibility of fans or reporters.

It seems it was all a part of the plan to ease the placekicker back into a groove and a comfortable routine.

Bass' 2026 Preseason Performance

Buffalo Bills veteran kicker Tyler Bass (16) reacts to a kick he made before the team's "Return of the Blue and Red" practice at the new $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, on Aug. 8, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Bass did kick at the Bills’ most recent “Return of the Blue and Red” scrimmage at the team’s new home venue on August 8—and he did fairly well by most accounts—but there’s something different about kicking in a game versus a practice or scrimmage: preseason or not.

"It probably took a few months before I started kicking, but we started with baby steps— 20-yarders, 10-yarders—(and) kind of worked from there. And, then it wasn't really until, like, midway through OTAs where I started really feeling kind of like myself again,” Bass said.

“The body is feeling good. We’re excited to get back, and the process has been really just recovering, strengthening what we had worked on, and just taking it one day at a time. We’re ready to go. We’ve worked really hard (together), and—like I said—we’re excited to be here, and I can’t wait.”

As for his jersey number? You’ll see Bass donning the No. 16 now that veteran wide receiver D.J. Moore has taken over No. 2 in Western New York.

Nov. 24, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Buffalo Bills place kicker Tyler Bass (2) smiles after kicking the game-winning field goal during the second half of a past NFL game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

But, the veteran placekicker doesn’t mind. Hopefully, the change—which actually really isn’t much of a change at all—is a good omen for the upcoming NFL season.

“(It was my) college number,” Bass added. “I’m excited: a lot of good memories with it.”