In a significant move that has caught the attention of football fans, the Buffalo Bills have officially signed veteran kicker Michael Badgley to their practice squad. This decision comes as they prepare for an upcoming game against the Cleveland Browns, where Badgley is expected to be promoted to the 53-man roster to handle kicking duties.
To accommodate this addition, the Bills made the tough choice to release cornerback M.J. Devonshire, who had only just been signed to the practice squad the previous week. This move highlights the Bills' ongoing efforts to manage their roster amid a series of injuries that have plagued the team this season.
The injury list grew even longer during the Bills' recent victory over the New England Patriots when kicker Matt Prater suffered a quad injury. Head coach Sean McDermott confirmed on Monday that Prater would miss the upcoming game and described his situation as week-to-week, suggesting that fans might expect him to be sidelined for multiple games.
Michael Badgley, now stepping into this crucial role, brings with him a wealth of experience from his time in the NFL since entering the league with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018. Over three seasons with the Chargers, Badgley established himself before moving around various teams, including stints with the Titans, Colts, Bears, and Lions, before rejoining the Colts. He sat out the entire 2024 season but made a notable return this year, playing in seven games where he successfully converted 10 out of 11 field goals, only missing one from beyond 50 yards. However, he did struggle somewhat with extra points, missing three of 21 attempts.
On kickoffs, Badgley demonstrated solid performance, managing just one touchback across 36 kicks, indicating his ability to keep the ball in play effectively. Throughout his career, he boasts an impressive 83.1% success rate on field goals and an even higher 94.9% on extra points, showcasing his reliability as a kicker.
It will be interesting to see how Badgley adapts to potentially challenging weather conditions, as his previous experience has primarily been in warm climates or indoor venues.
For those interested in further insights, Sal Maiorana, who has dedicated over four decades to covering the Buffalo Bills, including 36 years as a beat writer for the D&C, offers a wealth of knowledge. He has authored several books detailing the team's history and is a co-host of the BLEAV in Bills podcast and YouTube show. Fans can reach him via email at maiorana@gannett.com or follow him on X @salmaiorana and Bluesky @salmaiorana.bsky.social.
