Because Sam Martin has a hamstring injury, the Bills are using Haack to run it back.
This week, the Buffalo Bills will make yet another attempt to welcome a well-known figure back to One Bills Drive. The Bills are starting Matt Haack again at punter because Sam Martin’s hamstring ailment is making him less effective.
Sam Martin, the 33-year-old punter who also serves as the team’s holder for field goals and PATs, suffered a hamstring injury while pursuing a loose ball following kicker Tyler Bass’s blocked field goal attempt during Monday’s Super Wild Card Weekend victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Martin has been the punter for the Bills for the past two seasons.
Martin was considered iffy to return at halftime, but in the third quarter, he was able to punt 45 yards. On Tuesday, though, punter Sean McDermott, the head coach, named him as one of those who was “day to day.” It makes sense to call someone who is acquainted with the rest of the special teams team because the Bills are obviously seeking some insurance at the punting position.
The 29-year-old Haack, who is acquainted with kicker Tyler Bass and long snapper Reid Ferguson, handled both punting and holding responsibilities for Buffalo in 2021. While in Buffalo, Haack’s average punt yardage was 42.9, which was the lowest of his career (he began with the Miami Dolphins in 2017 and continued until 2020). Following one season with the Bills, Haack was fired amid a training camp rivalry and signed on to play for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. Before the Cleveland Browns brought him in to handle punting responsibilities in their Week 17 game against the New York Jets, Haack spent the 2023 season at home. The seasoned punter had three punts in his lone game of the season, averaging 51.7 yards and going 56 yards long.
Buffalo cut veteran running back Leonard Fournette from their practice squad on Tuesday, which could be explained by Haack’s signing. Up to six veterans are permitted to be on an NFL team’s practice squad. Buffalo had already reached that quota and needed to free up another veteran in order to bring Haack to One Bills Drive. The Bills felt comfortable releasing their running back insurance, at least for one week, now that Ty Johnson was fully recovered.
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