BREAKING: Another Veteran Running Back Returns to Bills for Third Stint in Buffalo
The Buffalo Bills are bringing back a familiar player to their backfield.
On March 11, the team announced the signing of veteran running back Darrynton Evans, marking his third stint with Buffalo. Evans will add depth to the position as he competes for a role behind starting running back James Cook.
Bills Add Competition to the Backfield
Since entering the NFL as a third-round pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2020, Darrynton Evans has bounced around the league, spending time with four different teams, including two separate stints on Buffalo’s practice squad. Throughout his career, Evans has recorded 65 carries for 249 yards and one rushing touchdown, along with 12 receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown.
The Bills also have another decision to make in their backfield, as Ty Johnson is set to hit free agency following the conclusion of his contract. Johnson climbed from the practice squad last season and became a key contributor behind James Cook, serving as the team’s primary third-down back.
Last season, Johnson rushed 41 times for 213 yards and a touchdown while adding 18 receptions for 284 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He played a crucial role in the playoffs, particularly in the Bills’ wild-card victory over the Broncos, where he rushed for 44 yards, caught two passes for 26 yards and a touchdown, and returned two kicks for 59 yards.
Following that game, Bills quarterback Josh Allen praised Johnson’s performance.
“I’ve been saying that all year long — Ty Johnson is the best third-down back in football,” Allen told AtoZ Sports. “The things that he’s able to do for us, the way we communicate, him in the pass game, blocking, and running the ball, he does it all. I’m so happy for him. So proud of him. He made a heck of a play. It was fourth down, there was no point in holding it, taking a sack there. They played man, and I just gave him a chance.”
Bills Could Have One More Expensive Decision Coming
Although the Bills have James Cook under contract for another year and power back Ray Davis signed for three, they may soon have to make a major decision regarding their backfield. Cook has been vocal about wanting a contract extension, even suggesting a salary of $15 million per year—an amount that would place him among the league’s highest-paid running backs.
At the NFL Combine, Bills general manager Brandon Beane acknowledged Cook’s contract situation, admitting he would have preferred a more private approach but emphasizing the team’s appreciation for him. Cook led the league with 16 rushing touchdowns last season and has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in consecutive seasons, becoming the first Bills running back to do so since LeSean McCoy.
“The business is the business,” Beane said. “Would I prefer we don’t take the business outside? Yes. I think that’s always the best way to handle it, but James is a grown man. He’ll handle it the way he does. It doesn’t change my view of him.”