Bold headline: The Bills bring in a veteran kicker to stabilize the squad, adding Michael Badgley to the practice squad and reshaping the kicking room.
The Buffalo Bills announced on Tuesday that they have signed kicker Michael Badgley to the practice squad. He will wear jersey number 32 for the Bills. Badgley most recently appeared for the Indianapolis Colts this season, appearing in seven games and successfully converting 10 of 11 field goal attempts (a 91% clip). Notably, he was perfect from 40-49 yards (4-for-4) and went 2-for-3 on 50-59-yard tries.
Since 2021, Badgley has made 56 of 65 field goals, a solid 86% conversion rate, demonstrating reliability in a variety of conditions and distances.
This move comes as the Bills contend with a week-to-week situation at kicker. On Monday, head coach Sean McDermott stated that Matt Prater will be considered week-to-week due to a quad injury and will miss Week 16 against Cleveland.
In a related roster shift, Buffalo also released cornerback M.J. Devonshire as part of the corresponding move.
Why this matters: Badgley’s experience and proven accuracy could provide immediate competition and depth at a position that’s faced some uncertainty. If Prater remains limited or unavailable, Badgley’s presence offers the Bills a reliable option to handle field goals and kickoff duties.
Thought-provoking angle: With Prater’s injury concerns lingering, should teams prioritize high-floor veterans like Badgley over developing younger specialists, or does betting on upside trump stability in high-leverage moments? Share your take below: do you side with conservative reliability or with a risk-tolerant strategy that prioritizes potential long-term impact?
