The Buffalo Bills made a significant move by signing former Rams kicker Lucas Havrisik to the practice squad. This decision came after the Bills had a tryout with several kickers, leading to Havrisik getting the opportunity to showcase his skills and earn a spot on the team.
Buffalo’s current kicker, Tyler Bass, has been struggling as of late, missing three field goals and two extra points this season. General manager Brandon Beane addressed the situation by emphasizing the importance of production in the kicker position. Beane stated, “He hasn’t done as well as he or we had hoped, so we’ve got to continue to look and monitor and if there’s a better option that we have to turn to then we’ll do that.”
Despite Bass’s recent performance issues, Beane expressed a desire for him to succeed with the team. This sentiment could be influenced by Bass’s lucrative contract worth $20.4 million, with a substantial 2024 cap hit of over $4 million.
Head coach Sean McDermott refrained from directly addressing whether his confidence in Bass had been shaken. Instead, McDermott emphasized the importance of performance, stating, “He knows he needs to make those kicks.”
Bass’s kicking accuracy has declined over the past few seasons. While he had an impressive 87.5% field goal success rate and 100% PAT rate in the 2021 season, his numbers dipped slightly in 2022. However, in the 2023 season, Bass struggled even more, converting only 82.8% of his field goals. This year, Bass’s field goal percentage has dropped to 75, with two missed extra points compared to just one in the previous two seasons combined.
The decision to bring Havrisik onboard demonstrates the Bills’ commitment to fielding the best possible team. With competition at the kicker position heating up, Bass will need to improve his performance to secure his spot on the roster. As the season progresses, all eyes will be on both kickers to see who will emerge as the top choice for field goal duties in Buffalo.
