Tyler Bass’ struggles continue during Buffalo Bills 2024 mandatory minicamp

According to reports from the Buffalo Bills’ mandatory minicamp, kicker Tyler Bass has had his share of difficulty getting the ball through the uprights. In a report shared by Alex Brasky, he noted that Wednesday was “an ugly session” for Bass who, according to Brasky, “missed his first 3 kicks 45, 35, 35.”

Interestingly, Brasky’s report states that Bass made two 50-yard field goals that sandwiched another 45-yard miss – adding that Bass followed with a “1 for 2 on 50 kicks.”

Selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the roots of Tyler Bass’ professional career with the Bills are off to a great start. As a rookie, he outperformed veteran kicker Stephen Hauschka and won the role as the team’s starting kicker, ultimately breaking the long-standing scoring records held by Steve Christie and Scott Norwood.

There was a time when Bass earned the nickname “Bass-o-matic” from Bills Mafia, and his play as a point producer reflected that well. In three consecutive seasons, Bass was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month (October 2021, November 2022 and September 2023).

But the truth is, at times, Tyler Bass has felt more like a kicker than a kicker solidified by consistency. Lately, Bass seems to excel at longer kicks, while sometimes making shorter, more routine kicks too much of an adventure.

Notably this offseason, the Bills signed undrafted rookie kicker Jake Browning. It remains to be seen whether this move was simply intended to provide Bass with some relief during the off months or to not-so-subtly nudge him back toward the greatness that gave One Bills Drive a reason to sign him to a nice contract extension . This contract, signed in April 2023, gave Tyler Bass a four-year extension worth $21 million.

Brasky rightly points out Bass’s “disappointing” 83% completion percentage from last season, which nearly mirrors his career 84.9% completion percentage. Particularly notable last season were late-game scenarios where Bass found himself unable to convert a game-changing kick or where the option wasn’t even given to him. The only missed kick that sticks out is of course Bass’ final attempt for the 2023 season. Fair or not, it became the kick that ultimately sent everyone home.

Overall last season, Bass made 24 of 29 field goal attempts and 49 of 50 extra point attempts. There is no horseshoe game with NFL kickers, and their margin for error is among the thinnest in all sports. Quarterbacks and receivers who finish games connecting/catching 83% of their passes/targets are considered exceptional. For either of them, finishing a season with percentages near that rate puts them in vaunted territory.

Over four seasons with the Bills, Bass made 107 of 126 field goals (84.9%) in the regular season, as well as 205 of 210 (97.6%) on extra points. Bass’ numbers decline in percentage terms in playoff games, converting just 12 of 17 field goals (70.6%) and 26 of 29 extra point attempts (89.7%).

(Statistics courtesy of Reference of professional football)

When a player’s primary role is to finish what an offense has started, he is expected to score where the drive stalled (or converted). In fairness to head coach Sean McDermott, he avoids playing head games with his kicker when Bass can’t clear his mind.

It’s clear Bass has the talent and ability, he just needs to rediscover the mojo. For a team determined to create greatness in its sport’s biggest venues, it will require what can only be seen as a surprisingly necessary redemptive season and career arc out of Bass.

Time is running out for Tyler Bass and Jake Browning as he looks to create his own legacy.