Buffalo Bills re-sign kicker Stephen Hauschka

The Buffalo Bills re-signed veteran kicker Stephen Hauschka on Wednesday, announcing a new two-year deal with the 34 year old. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the extension is worth $8 million. A breakdown showing guaranteed money still has to be disclosed.

Hauschka was entering the final year of a three-year pact he signed in March of 2017. That deal was worth a total of $8.85 million. Of that total, $4 million was guaranteed. In 2019, Hauschka carries a salary cap hit of $3.25 million.

After starting his Bills career with a bang, Hauschka was slowed by a late-season back injury in 2018 that had some fans wondering whether the team would move on from the veteran placekicker rather than keep him for the final year of his contract. In 2017, Hauschka made 29-of-33 field goal attempts, including a career-best seven field goals from 50 yards or more. His 87.9% made-field-goal-percentage was among the league’s best that year.

However, Hauschka’s numbers dipped last season, as he only made 22-of-28 field goals and was just 4-of-7 from beyond 50 yards. The reason for the drop in performance was injury, as Hauschka hurt his back after taking a blindside hit from 300-pound New York Jets defensive lineman Henry Anderson. Hauschka has seemingly returned to full health this preseason, as he’s had no trouble with distance in the exhibition season.

This preseason, Hauschka is only 2-for-4 on field-goal attempts, and he is 7-for-7 on extra points.