The Buffalo Bills' kicking game just took a hit before the postseason, as place kicker Matt Prater appears to have reaggravated the quad injury that kept him out for the past two games.
Just before the Bills scored on an impressive high-point catch from Gabe Davis in the endzone, it was announced that Prater had been ruled out with a quad injury, forcing the Bills to make a two-point conversion. Trubisky connected with Keon Coleman to bring the score to 29-0.
Punter Mitch Wishnowsky handled the kickoff duties afterward, which went off without a hitch.
Matt Prater’s injury gives Buffalo Bills unwanted playoff complication
Obviously, the bad news is that Prater could very well miss the Bills’ Wild Card playoff game next week, which, as of the time of the injury, appears to be against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Jags have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL to close the season, so points will no doubt be at a premium in the matchup. Not to say that wouldn’t be the case against any other top-3 seed in the AFC playoff field, of course.
Should that be the case, the Bills could simply turn back to Michael Badgley, who filled in for Prater in Weeks 15 and 16. Badgley hit his lone field goal try from 41 yards out, but missed two of four extra point tries, one of which was blocked against the Philadelphia Eagles, a game Buffalo lost by one point.
While the blocked kick wasn’t all on Badgley, it’s natural if there's some trepidation in the idea of bringing Badgley back. But as they say, better the devil you know, right?
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Regardless, the Bills will have to entertain Badgley or a new kicker elsewhere if Prater can’t suit up next week. Thankfully, the Bills already appear to have things wrapped up against the Jets to close out the final regular-season game in Highmark Stadium in preferred fashion.