The Bills saw their punting equation change when Sam Martin suffered a hamstring injury following a blocked field goal Monday. While Martin continued to punt in the team’s wild-card win, the Bills will bring in outside insurance.
Matt Haack will become Buffalo’s emergency punter, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter. This marks a Western New York return for Haack, who operated as the Bills’ punter in 2021. A seven-year veteran, Haack has played for three teams in the past three years. Haack will fill the practice squad spot vacated when the team cut Leonard Fournette, per the Buffalo News’ Katherine Fitzgerald.
A full-time punter from 2017-22, Haack has only served as an emergency leg this season. The Browns brought him in for their Week 17 game, with Corey Bojorquez dealing with an injury. Haack spent the 2022 season with the Colts, taking over after the team lost Rigoberto Sanchez during a late-summer workout. Haack spent all of last season in Indianapolis.
Haack, 29, averaged a career-low 42.9 yards per punt during his 2021 Bills one-off, with Buffalo not exactly featuring ideal conditions for specialists. The former four-year Dolphins punter has averaged at least 44.6 yards per boot in every other season.
Martin has been Buffalo’s punter for two seasons; he grabbed his hamstring while running to help prevent the Steelers from returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown during the second quarter Monday. IR could be an option, should the Bills want to save a roster spot, but that would mean Martin is done for the season. The Bills at least have a familiar option in the event Martin cannot go against the Chiefs on Sunday.
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