The Buffalo Bills have a problem at kicker thanks to an injury to Matt Prater.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott announced that Prater, who is dealing with a quadriceps injury, will not play in Week 16 against the Cleveland Browns.
"Bills HC Sean McDermott says DT Jordan Phillips will be out this week. K Matt Prater (quad) will also be out this week," Katherine Fitzgerald of The Buffalo News reported on Monday.
The fact that Prater was ruled out this quickly is troubling. It means he didn't have any chance to suit up this week, and that could mean he's in danger of missing multiple games, although that hasn't been confirmed yet.
Lest we forget, fellow kicker Tyler Bass has already been shut down for the season, so the Bills don't have another kicker on their roster and will now have to sign someone off the street.
Bass was placed on injured reserve prior to the start of the season and simply could not get healthy from his hip/groin injury and had to have season-ending surgery recently.
Prater was signed in the wake of Bass' injury before Week 1 and has provided a reliable leg, making 18-of-20 field goals and 43-of-46 extra points.
Now, the Bills have to wade into the uncertain waters of the free-agent kicker market to find a replacement for Prater, which is especially troublesome with the Bills trying to lock down a playoff spot and pass the New England Patriots in the AFC East over the final three weeks.
We would expect the Bills to try some kickers out as soon as possible and to sign someone by the middle of this week.
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