Are the Bills hoping to send kicker Tyler Bass a message, ready to move on, or is it something else entirely?
Though Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass has missed just one field goal through the first two weeks of the 2024 NFL regular season,
The Buffalo Bills reportedly worked out a pair of free-agent kickers on Tuesday, with both Anders Carlson and Cade York spotted at One Bills Drive. Barring an injury to kicker Tyler Bass, it’s a notable development to say the least. That’s especially the case when considering Bass’ current contract.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was first to share the news, which has plenty of Bills Mafia buzzing this evening.
Notable workouts from the wire:#Bills worked out kickers Anders Carlson and Cade York#Texans worked out TE Irv Smith#Vikings worked out LB Kwon Alexander#Seahawks worked out QB Ian Book and WRs Miles Boykin and Denzel Mims
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 17, 2024
Dating back to offseason work and throughout training camp, those in the local media who observed Bass’ practice efforts reported his struggles at a near-constant rate. There were notable missed kicks during mandatory minicamp, which were followed by a fairly efficient training camp (with Bass hitting 29-of-33 field goals overall), and a solid preseason going 6-for-7.
Even when he’s successful, of late, all anyone seems willing or able to do is hang on every missed kick or miscue by Tyler Bass. That’s true despite Bass’ strong start to the 2024 regular season.
To his credit, Bass made both field goal tries and all four extra point attempts in Week 1, adding another field goal on two tries and every extra-point try (4-for-4) in Week 2.
It seems unfair to claim his performances through the first two weeks have been subpar, given the fact that he’s missed just one field goal in four attempts. You may recall how that 45-yard miss came on the humidity-soaked natural grass of Hard Rock Stadium while the Bills held a comfortable lead late in the fourth quarter.
However, Bass’ struggles have crept further into special teams work, most notably during Buffalo’s Week 1 kickoffs. Bass’ wasn’t able to hit his kicks deep enough into a head-on wind for touchbacks during the fourth quarter against the Arizona Cardinals. That cost the Bills on the scoreboard when the coverage unit failed to prevent a touchdown return, swinging momentum briefly Arizona’s way. Additionally, Bass booted one kickoff out of bounds before hitting the end zone, which resulted in a costly penalty.
Finding a solid rebound just five days later against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2, Bass routinely placed kickoffs into the end zone. Yet all people remember is that missed field goal in the fourth quarter.
Not a block. Reposting because I tagged the wrong person 🙂 pic.twitter.com/DqhQOkI3ep
— Padinn (@Padinn) September 17, 2024
So what can one make of the Bills’ decision to try out Cade York and Anders Carlson? Are they trying to send a message, hoping Bass responds with an All-Pro performance? Maybe they are ready to move on?
General manager Brandon Beane will for sure claim it’s important to take a look at every available player. Head coach Sean McDermott even said that “those are one he’s gotta make” of Bass’ 51-yard miss in the team’s preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers.
Perhaps it isn’t so much about Bass’ numbers, nor his current efficiency, but about his present mindset. Nevertheless, one may wonder if bringing in competition is the right method to help Bass beat this perceived slump.
For some who are looking for any reason to move beyond Tyler Bass, Cade York and Anders Carlson will represent golden opportunity. That said, it’s important to have a full picture about any kicker in line to potentially replace Bass.
Looking at career numbers, Bass’ career field-goal percentage is 84%. Meanwhile, Cade York owns a career field-goal percentage of 70% (75% in 2022), and Anders Carlson has a career field-goal percentage of 81%. Carlson was a bit of a disaster on extra points in 2023, hitting just 87.2% of point-after-tries. None of those stats represents an improvement on Bass’ production.
Additionally, one should consider the relative lack of NFL experience for York (18 games) and Carlson (17 games). In contrast, Bass has 68 regular-season games and nine game of playoff experience. Though some will point to Bass’ postseason struggles, neither of York or Carlson have any playoff experience.
York was so bad in Week 1 this season that the Washington Commanders cut him. Carlson hasn’t been on a roster since last season with the Green Bay Packers.
At almost every turn in Western New York, you can find Bills fans ready to claim that Tyler Bass was the reason Buffalo lost to the Chiefs this past January, and seething that he was only 1-for-3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers the week before.
Right or wrong, playoff performances like last season from Bass have been a sticking point for plenty of Bills Mafia. Has such an opinion festered too long among the Bills’ decision makers? Sure, there’s the possibility that they’re looking to sign a kicker to the practice squad hoping to avoid the same fate that befell the New York Giants in Week 2.
Maybe.
The fact remains that many see Tyler Bass as a significant liability in 2024. Conversations of late have begun to question how many game-deciding kicks Bass will miss before head coach Sean McDermott takes action.
Would the team be willing to part ways with Bass — who just entered the first year of his four-year contract extension — and take on nearly $7.4 million in dead cap? Is it time to move on from the player with the highest field goal percentage in Bills franchise history?
Any way the wind blows, they say.