The Buffalo Bills never punted once during their preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers on Saturday, leaving their punter competition in a bit of a bind.
The Bills had nine possessions in their 29-14 victory at new Highmark Stadium, with three touchdowns, four field-goal attempts, the end of the first half, and the end of the game. Rookies Tommy Doman and veteran Mitch Wishnowsky, who are vying for the punting job, combined for zero punts.
Bills coach Joe Brady was amused by the lack of punting opportunities. "I was hoping to probably get some punts today," Brady joked after the game. "But there's just nothing in me to ever want that, right?" Brady's comment hints at his background as the team's previous offensive coordinator, a position he held for three seasons before becoming head coach this year.
The Bills have been averse to punting in the past. Last season, they punted the fifth-fewest times in the NFL. On Saturday, they took it one step further, opening the game with a field goal before Josh Allen connected with Keon Coleman for a touchdown on the second possession. The next three meaningful drives ended with a missed field goal and two made field goals.
Despite the lack of punting opportunities, Doman still got onto the field, handling holding duties for Tyler Bass. Bass made three field goals and two extra points while missing one field-goal attempt. Special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers had previously mentioned that the team would give Bass concentrated work with each potential holder instead of repeatedly switching between Doman and Wishnowsky during the same session.
The Bills brought Wishnowsky back on a one-year contract after he was signed during the 2025 season and stabilized the position. Wishnowsky averaged 45.3 yards per punt with a 41.9-yard net average on 38 attempts, with 18 punts inside the 20-yard line. Opponents returned only 11 of his punts for 69 yards last season, with an average hang time of 4.44 seconds.
The rookie Doman, who was drafted in the seventh round, can also handle kickoffs and serve as a holder, offering versatility that could factor into Buffalo's decision. Doman joked shortly after the draft about joining an offense led by Allen, saying, "I don't know how much Josh Allen really needs me to play." His first preseason game offered an answer about punting: not once.
The punter competition between Doman and Wishnowsky remains unresolved, with the next test likely to come in the upcoming games.
Source: Yahoo Sports