Buffalo Bills K Tyler Bass responds to competition signing with practice squad

Kicker Tyler Bass kept his response to competition very professional

It’s no secret that Buffalo Bills five-year veteran kicker Tyler Bass has had some struggles this season. After beginning his career with the Bills in 2020, Bass quickly became a reliable figure in the franchise. With his single eye-black and on-field swagger, Bills fans never had to worry when an extra point or field goal was needed, especially in Buffalo’s notoriously windy and sometimes-turbulent stadium.

The 2024 season has been a bit different for Bass, though. Ranking 27th in field-goal percentage and 25th in extra-point percentage, Buffalo’s kicker has suddenly become a bit of a liability for the team.

On Thursday, the Bills signed 25-year-old undrafted free-agent kicker Lucas Havrisik to their practice squad. They also worked out several other kickers throughout the week, before settling on the former Arizona prospect.

Jonathan Acosta, sports reporter for WGRZ, caught up with Bass after practice on Thursday to get his opinions on his performance and the new signing for the Bills.

“After tough games like Monday night man, you come in here and you gotta be fully accountable,” Bass stated. “You gotta be honest with yourself, talk to your coaches, figure out the issue and you gotta move forward. But once you come in on Tuesday, since we played Monday, you watch the tape and then you flush it and then you figure out a plan, keep it simple this week and focus on that to the best of your abilities.”

Acosta then asked how hard it was for Bass to learn that the team had signed another kicker to their practice squad and how the conversations have gone between him, head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane regarding Bass’s role on the team.

“It’s been real professional, real honest,” Bass replied. “At the end of the day, it’s a results-based business and a couple of my games this year haven’t been great and not the results we’ve desired. You understand it, man. You understand it. It’s a business, it’s a results-based league and at the end of the day, you just gotta keep putting in your work and control what you can control.”

Bass then added, “It’s easier said than done but at the end of the day, man, I’ve hit every kind of ball. I’ve had misses. I’ve had makes. There’s nothing I haven’t experienced so, you know, I just reminded myself of just that 12-year-old kid that when he started and when he’s kicking just in the backyard and at the high school, man, it’s just what he was thinking. At the end of the day, it’s just all about having fun and keeping it simple and really believing in yourself. Knowing you can do it. You know, I’ve seen myself do it. I know I can do it and at the end of the day, you’ve just gotta really lean into that.”

Tyler Bass looks to get back on track this Sunday at home against the Tennessee Titans.