A surgical instrument includes a handle portion a shaft housing a firing bar an end effector comprising an anvil a lower jaw and a stapling and severing assembly responsive to a longitudinal closing motion produced by the handle portion and the shaft. The lower jaw is configured to receive a removable cartridge. The cartridge includes a housing a plurality of staples disposed in the housing a deck disposed over the plurality of staples and a fastener insert tip including a plurality of hooks. The deck defines apertures with each aperture being substantially disposed over each staple. The instrument includes a fastener insert including hooks and the fastener insert is removably received in the anvil. A buttress is attached to one or both of the anvil and the cartridge via the hooks.
