The Bills are keeping one of James Cook‘s backups in the fold. Ty Johnson is expected to stay in Buffalo on a deal that will put him on track play a second season with the perennial AFC East champions, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets.
A former Lions and Jets running back, the five-year veteran will have another opportunity with the Bills. Initially signing with Buffalo in 2023, Johnson worked in a reserve role in 10 games last season.
Damien Harris‘ midseason injury prompted the Bills to promote Johnson, who landed on the practice squad after not making Buffalo’s roster out of training camp. The Maryland alum then joined Latavius Murray as a Cook backup last season. Johnson logged 37 touches for 194 yards, catching a touchdown pass during his run of spot duty. He fared well in this role during the Bills’ narrow divisional-round loss to the Chiefs, totaling 40 yards on seven carries.
Harris and Murray, the latter managing to play an age-33 season in 2023, are not under contract. While the Bills should be expected to add an RB2 candidate in the draft or later in free agency, they have Johnson in place as a capable reserve. Darrynton Evans also resides on Buffalo’s offseason roster, rounding out the team’s backfield at present.
Johnson, 26, averaged 5.3 yards per carry as a Jet in 2022. The Jets had re-signed Johnson in March 2023 only to release him a month later. Over his career, the former sixth-round pick has totaled just 238 carries while contributing on special teams.
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