The Buffalo Bills found a surprise star in kicker Matt Prater, who joined the team just three days before Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens but managed to turn in one of the biggest kicks in franchise history.
Prater nailed a 32-yard kick as time expired in the game, giving the Bills an improbable 41-40 win after they had trailed by 15 points with under five minutes remaining. Prater became a hero among players and fans, but the team could now face a roster challenge in keeping the longtime NFL veteran.
Bills May Need to Make Move on Matt Prater
Prater had initially joined the team last Thursday after the Bills placed regular kicker Tyler Bass on injured reserve. The 41-year-old kicker initially signed to the practice squad and was elevated for the game, but they may need to make the promotion permanent in order to avoid losing Prater.
As reporter Kevin Massare warned, there are several teams with struggling kickers who could poach Prater after his 3-for-3 performance in Sunday’s win. Massare suggested that the Bills will soon sign Prater to the active roster, protecting him against
“There was some bad kicking in the NFL (see Cleveland),” Massare wrote in a post on X. “No way Matt Prater sits on the practice squad any longer than today”
The Bills would need to release another player in order to make room on their 53-man roster, as there are no injured players who could be placed on injured reserve instead.
Matt Prater’s Whirlwind Week
Prater said he took a red-eye flight to Buffalo to join his new teammates on Thursday and spent time getting to know other players and learning his way around the locker room.
Bills long snapper Reid Ferguson said he had a premonition about Prater’s first game with the Bills.
âHis first practice on Friday, we got some kicks down here in the stadium, and I was like, I donât know, Iâm feeling a game winner on Sunday,â Ferguson said, via The Athletic. âAnd they all heard me.â
Punter Brad Robbins said it took a couple of days for the 41-year-old to adjust after his late addition to the Bills and frantic travel schedule. Prater said he had been coaching his son’s football team in the days leading up to his signing.
âHe said today was the day he felt like he woke up and actually felt like a human after that red eye,â Robbins told reporters after the game. âHe was like, âI actually feel pretty good today.ââ
Robbins, who was eight years old when Prater came into the NFL, said he was a big fan of the kicker and tried to get a souvenir from the longtime veteran.
âAs soon as I found out he was here, I was like, âHey, I donât care what it takes, but can you make me a jersey? Iâll buy it off ya.â I can have Prater sign it,â Robbins said. âA Prater Bills jersey is going to be like a rarity. Itâll be pretty sweet.â
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