The Buffalo Bills on Wednesday announced that they've placed kicker Dave Rayner on Injured Reserve, and have signed Brandon Coutu to replace him for the team's regular season finale against the New England Patriots.
Rayner, as you all are aware, was signed earlier this season to replace Rian Lindell, who is himself on IR with a shoulder injury. A sore pelvis has hampered Rayner's accuracy of late; he missed two short field goals in last week's win over Denver before converting on his last four kicks of the day.
Even with those makes that helped off-set his shaky start, Rayner's season is over. He made 10-of-15 kicks as Lindell's fill-in, including two from over 50 yards. Coutu, a former seventh-round pick of Seattle, has never attempted a field goal nor an extra point in regular season action.
Reports broke earlier this season that the Bills were keen to re-sign Lindell (13-of-15), an impending unrestricted free agent, after this season. Rayner's inconsistencies didn't do anything to change that, and it's doubtful that Coutu will be able to make his mark, either. Expect Lindell to be a priority for the team once the season is complete.