BUF Ty Johnson
NFL running back. Position: RB. Team: Buffalo Bills.
Quick Facts
- Position: RB
- Team: BUF (Buffalo Bills)
- Role: Third-down back / passing-down specialist
2026 Outlook
Ty Johnson held the Bills' third-down back job for three years with Josh Allen calling him "the best third-down back in football" after the 2024 Wild Card win over Denver. However, 2025 told a complicated story: he ran for just 200 yards on 50 carries (4.0 yards per carry, down from 5.1 in 2024), his snap share dipped, and his grip on the third-down role is now looser than it's been. New offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael is expected to significantly expand James Cook's receiving role (think Alvin Kamara in New Orleans working out of the backfield), which could shrink Johnson's usage further. His relevance entering 2026 is genuinely in question as the Bills evaluate whether he can recapture his 2024 form or finally lose his specialized role (per Buffalo Bills 2026 training camp position battle primer: QB, RB, OL - Buffalo Rumblings).
Role / Depth Chart
Third-down / passing-down back behind RB1 James Cook and RB2 Ray Davis. 2026 role uncertain as new OC Pete Carmichael is expected to expand James Cook's receiving role significantly.
Recent News
- 2026-07-02 — Buffalo Bills 2026 training camp position battle primer: QB, RB, OL (Buffalo Bills 2026 training camp position battle primer: QB, RB, OL - Buffalo Rumblings)
Open Questions
- Will Ty Johnson recapture his 2024 production or finally lose relevance as James Cook takes on expanded passing-down role?
- Does new OC Carmichael's Alvin Kamara-style approach eliminate the need for a traditional third-down back?