The Bills signed Prater off their practice squad Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Though Buffalo would have had the ability to elevate Prater from the practice squad in advance of two more games, the Bills may have chosen to sign the 41-year-old to the 53-man roster to avoid having him being poached by the 49ers or Falcons, both of whom could be breaking in new kickers in Week 2. Prater is likely to stick around as the Bills' kicker for the duration of the absence of Tyler Bass (hip/groin), who was placed on injured reserve prior to the start of the season and will miss at least three more games. The veteran Prater proved to be reliable in his Bills debut this past Sunday, knocking down both of his point-after attempts in addition to converting on field-goal tries of 25, 43 and 32 yards in Buffalo's 41-40 win over Baltimore, the last of which was the game-winner as time expired.

Prater reverted to the Bills' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log reports.

EDGE Analysis

Prater nailed a game-winning 32-yard field goal in Sunday's 41-40 win over the Ravens, operating as Buffalo's starting kicker in Week 1 with Tyler Bass (hip/groin) unavailable. Prater also made two other field-goal attempts and both of his extra-point tries in the victory. The 41-year-old will almost certainly be elevated to the active roster again in Week 2 versus the Jets.

Prater made all three of his field-goal attempts and both of his extra-point tries in Buffalo's stunning 41-40 come-from-behind win on Sunday Night Football.

EDGE Analysis

Prater was kicking for the Bills only because regular kicker Tyler Bass was recently moved to IR with a hip/groin injury. Prater deftly handled all of his assignments after getting elevated from the practice squad, none bigger than when he calmly nailed the 32-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. There's almost no way the Bills won't let him finish out Bass's IR stint, which at minimum will be another three weeks. It's worth noting that those opponents offer decent matchups for fantasy kickers, as the Bills play the Jets, Dolphins and Saints in Weeks 2-4.

The Bills officially elevated Prater from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, in preparation for him to start Sunday night against the Ravens.

EDGE Analysis

Prater is expected to start Buffalo's first four games of the regular season, at least, with Tyler Bass (left hip/groin) on IR. He'll only be eligible to be elevated from the practice squad a maximum of three times, however, so if the Bills intend for Prater to handle kicking duties through Week 4 he'll need to be signed to the active roster at some point. The 41-year-old converted all six of his field-goal tries and all 10 extra-point attempts across four regular-season appearances with the Cardinals in 2024.

Prater is set to kick for the Bills on Sunday against the Ravens and will likely handle kicking duties through at least Week 4 after the team placed Tyler Bass (hip/groin) on injured reserve Friday, Ryan Miller of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Prater signed with Buffalo's practice squad Thursday and technically isn't on the active roster yet, though he'll be either elevated from the practice squad or signed to the roster prior to Sunday night's season opener. Bass's placement on IR requires an absence of at least four games. Prater should serve as Buffalo's kicker during that span, assuming the 41-year-old kicker still has enough left in the tank to perform the job effectively and avoid an injury of his own.

The Bills signed Prater (knee) to their practice squad Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Buffalo will bring Prater aboard as insurance at kicker after Tyler Bass (hip) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice. The 41-year-old Prater spent the 2024 season with the Cardinals, converting on all six of his field-goal tries and all 10 of his extra-point attempts before missing the final 13 games of the campaign while recovering from meniscus surgery, which he underwent in October. Prater is presumably healthy again and will likely be elevated from the practice squad if Bass ends up being ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Ravens.

Prater (knee) won't play Sunday against the 49ers, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Chad Ryland closes out the season as Arizona's kicker, with Prater having missed the past three months due to a meniscus injury. Prater's return to practice for the past few weeks suggests he should be healthy for 2025, but he's scheduled for free agency this offseason and will turn 41 in August. Ryland, meanwhile, is 25 years old and has missed just four field-goal attempts and one PAT all year, bouncing back strong after a brutal rookie season with New England in 2023.

Prater (left knee) practiced in a limited fashion Thursday, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Prater hasn't logged anything other than limited listings on Arizona injury reports since the team designated him for return from injured reserve Dec. 18. He's been ruled out before both of the last two games, and Friday's report could do the same for the 40-year-old kicker. If Prater isn't able to play Sunday versus the 49ers, Chad Ryland again will fill in in that capacity.

Prater (left knee) was limited at Wednesday's walkthrough, Zach Gershman of the Cardinals' official site reports.

EDGE Analysis

Prater has remained listed as limited on Arizona injury reports since the team designated him for return from injured reserve Dec. 18. He still was ruled out in advance of the previous two games, but it remains to be seen if he'll suffer a similar fate this week. The Cardinals are out of playoff contention, so Sunday's game against the 49ers is Prater's final chance to suit up this season. If Prater isn't able to, Chad Ryland will handle placekicking duties yet again.

Prater (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's game at the Rams, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Since the Cardinals designated him for return from injured reserve last Wednesday, Dec. 18, Prater has been listed as limited on all six of the Cardinals' practice reports. On both occasions, he didn't progress enough to be given a chance to play Weeks 16 or 17, giving him only one more opportunity to kick again this season Week 18 against the 49ers. Chad Ryland will continue to serve as Arizona's placekicker this weekend.