The Buffalo Bills agreed to contract terms with a running back.
They’re not locking up James Cook at his requested $15 million per year or running it back with third-down back Ty Johnson.
Buffalo will sign Darrynton Evans, 26, for his third stint with the organization, according to his agency, Priority Sports. Evans was most recently with the Bills last season but he was released on Oct. 29.
Evans has not played for Buffalo in a regular season game.
Evans signed a reserve/future contract with Buffalo in January 2024 was was moved to injured reserve with a hamstring injury during final cuts in August. The Bills initially gave Evans an eligible to return designation. Each team only has eight such designations so it appeared Evans was in Buffalo’s active roster plans before the emergence of rookie Ray Davis and efficiency of Johnson.
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Buffalo opened Evans’ 21-day practice window on Oct. 9. He was released less than three weeks later. Evans signed with the Chicago Bears the following week and saw action in five games totaling three carries for 3 yards.
Evans is a versatile runner who ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine but his career hasn’t gotten off the ground after a spate of knee amd hamstring injuries. He has 65 career carries.
The Tennessee Titans selected Evans in the third-round out of Appalachian State where he was the Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year but he was never the primary backup to Derrick Henry. He was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury as a rookie and played one game before being placed on injured reserve to end his second season in 2021.
Evans had a 35-yard touchdown run for the Bills in a 2023 preseason game but was waived as part of final cuts. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts, Bills, Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears in 2023 and saw action in seven games.
Running back Ty Johnson an unrestricted free agent
Ty Johnson is coming off two straight one-year contracts with the Bills and is an unrestricted free agent. He blossomed in a third-down back role in 2024, finishing with 497 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns. Johnson was Buffalo’s best running back in pass protection.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen was effusive in his praise for Johnson throughout the season.
“I’ve been saying Ty Johnson’s the best third-down back in football,” Allen said after Johnson brought in a 24-yard touchdown reception in the Bills dismantling of the Denver Broncos in the AFC wild-card game. “The things that he’s able to do for us, the way we can communicate, him in the pass game blocking and running the ball, he does it all. I’m so proud of him.” He made a heck of a play.”
Johnson, 27, had 44 rushing yards, 26 receiving yards and returned two kickoffs with a 29.5-yard average in the win over the Broncos.
Allen credited Johnson a week later for being selfless and a positive presence in the locker room.
Buffalo Bills running back depth chart
The Bills currently have starting running back James Cook along with Ray Davis, Frank Gore Jr. and Evans.
Reggie Gilliam, who has been Buffalo’s fullback since 2000, is an unrestricted free agent.
