The Buffalo Bills had some punter problems early on in the 2025 season. After releasing one due to ineffectiveness just one week into the season, the Bills thought they had found a suitable replacement. However, an injury derailed that plan, leading them to sign a third punter just one month into the schedule.
That third punter not only stuck around for the rest of the year, but he performed quite well throughout it. In fact, he performed well enough that the team decided to bring him back on a one-year
contract for this season. That didn’t stop the Bills from adding competition, though, as they also drafted a punter late in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In today’s edition of “91 players in 91 days,” we discuss the veteran half of Buffalo’s sure-to-be-epic Great Punter Battle of 2026.
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Name: Mitch Wishnowsky
Number: 19
Position: P
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 220 pounds
Age: 34 (35 on 3/2/2027)
Experience/Draft: 8; selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round (No. 110 overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft
College: Utah
Acquired: Signed with Buffalo on 9/30/2025
Financial situation (per Spotrac): Wishnowsky re-signed with Buffalo this offseason, inking a one-year deal worth $1.475 million overall. Thanks to the veteran’s salary benefit, his cap hit will be a bit less if he makes the club, coming in at $1.25 million for the season. If Buffalo releases him before Week 1, they will carry a dead-cap charge of $150,000. If Wishnowsky is on the roster for the first game, his whole base salary — $1.3 million — is guaranteed thanks to his status as a vested veteran.
2025 Recap: Wishnowsky was released by the 49ers at the end of May, and he was without a team throughout the entire offseason, training camp, and preseason from that point onward. He signed with the Washington Commanders’ practice squad on September 10, but when punter Tress Way was able to suit up in Washington’s next game, they released Wishnowsky just three days later.
Buffalo signed Wishnowsky on September 30 after punter Cameron Johnston, who had replaced Brad Robbins after the first game of the season, suffered a knee injury against the New Orleans Saints. Wishnowsky remained Buffalo’s punter for the rest of the season, totaling 38 punts at an average of 45.3 yards per punt. 18 of those punts landed inside the opposing 20-yard line, and 15 of them forced a fair catch. He allowed 11 returns for just 69 yards while netting 41.9 yards per punt.
Positional outlook: Wishnowsky and Tommy Doman Jr. are set to do battle for the right to be Buffalo’s punter this season.
2026 Offseason: Wishnowsky is healthy, having participated in all offseason work as of publishing.
2026 Season outlook: Given how little Wishnowsky is set to count against the salary cap, it’s unlikely that finances will play a role in which punter makes the team this season. The best man, whether it’s Wishnowsky or Doman, is going to win. If the Bills cut Wishnowsky and keep Doman, their financial obligations at punter will add up to around $1.07 million between Wishnowsky’s $150,000 dead-cap number and Doman‘s $918,043 cap hit. The difference between just keeping Wishnowsky and moving on is so slight that the finances should not, and likely will not, factor into the decision.
Wishnowsky was very good last season, so if Doman is going to unseat him, he’ll have to be excellent in his own right this summer. Part of the way he can do it is by showing that he’s not only a consistent punter, but that he’s also very good at holding on field goals and extra point attempts.
With Tyler Bass set to return this season, working closely with the kicker to ensure that holds are done at the proper angle is essential to ensuring maximum success and comfort. Buffalo might not want to put that responsibility in the hands of a rookie, so it could be another way for Wishnowsky to separate himself this season.
There might be some sexier battles at more prized positions this offseason, but the punter battle is one that we’ll have to watch closely. Wishnowsky has a great shot at sticking on the roster this year, especially if he can perform at the level he did last season.
