The Bills have started 3-0, and the running game is starting to look like one of the reasons why. James Cook has been the clear engine over the last two weeks, piling up 346 rushing yards and two touchdowns to rank third in the league on the ground. After a quiet Week 1, he’s topped 135 rushing yards in each of the last two games, while Ty Johnson’s return in Week 3 gave Buffalo another layer of flexibility out of the backfield.
That’s why Ray Davis’ absence from the offense has stood out so much.
Davis has been active in all three games, but his only touch came in Week 1 against the Texans, when he logged one carry for three yards. Johnson wasn’t even dressed for that game, and Frank Gore Jr. ended up with the same stat line as Davis.
For a player who made noise last season as a First-Team All-Pro kick returner, that kind of usage has been hard to ignore. Davis finished with 943 kick return yards and a touchdown in 2025, but his offensive role has barely existed so far.
Joe Brady may have just put some fuel behind the idea that change is coming.
According to Matthew Bove of WKBW, Brady spoke with reporters Monday and said that "they need to get Ray Davis more involved because he's too good of a player to not have a bigger role."
Joe Brady unprompted said they need to get Ray Davis more involved because he’s too good of a player to not have a bigger role.
- Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) September 28, 2026
That comment lands right as Buffalo turns to Week 4 and its first divisional game of the season, a matchup with the New England Patriots. New England has allowed 108 rushing yards per game through three weeks, which makes this a logical spot to lean harder into the ground attack and see if Davis can become part of it.
There’s also the special teams piece to keep in mind. Greg Dortch is handling kick returns, but Davis was an All-Pro in that role last season, so it makes sense to keep him involved there while maybe opening the door for more offensive snaps.
Johnson still looks like the more useful backup to Cook because of what he can do in multiple spots. Even so, Brady’s message was clear: Davis has been too quiet. That could change Sunday.
In Other News...
Jessica Pegula Just Raised A New Bills Ownership Question
Jessica Pegulas latest comments offered a rare glimpse into how the Pegula family may be thinking about its future around the Bills, and it came at a time when the franchises long-term ownership picture naturally draws attention. The world No. 3 in tennis told CNBC she could see herself helping with the organization after her playing career, which is notable given how little public clarity there has been about what role, if any, she might take on beyond her current athletic path.
Her remarks also landed against the backdrop of her mother Kim Pegulas health issues, a factor that has shaped how fans think about the familys day-to-day involvement with the team. Jessica Pegula also said the family does not intend to sell its teams despite the soaring valuations around pro sports, leaving the bigger question less about ownership changing hands and more about how the next chapter inside the Pegula operation might eventually be organized. [Read more 🡒]
Bills May Have A Tough James Cook Decision Coming
James Cook has settled in as one of the more important pieces of Buffalos offense, and his recent play has only sharpened the attention around his long-term future. The Bills still have him under contract through 2029, which gives the team plenty of control on paper, but the market for running backs keeps shifting and his current deal sits 13th among players at his position.
Cooks performance has made him a logical candidate for a future raise, and that creates the kind of decision front offices try to get ahead of before it becomes urgent. Buffalo may eventually have to weigh whether an extension now is the cleaner path to keeping him around, especially if his camp starts looking at the growing salaries elsewhere in the league. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Patriots Opener Comes With A Revenge Twist Fans Will Notice
The Bills first AFC East test of the season arrives in Week 4, when New England comes to Buffalo for a matchup that carries a little extra edge. It is the kind of early divisional game that usually tells you something about both teams, and this one comes with a familiar subplot for Bills fans: the Patriots roster now includes several players who once wore Buffalo colors, giving the opener a revenge-game feel before the division race even gets rolling.
Reggie Gilliam, Mack Hollins, DaQuan Jones, Mitch Wishnowsky and Greg Van Roten have all spent time with the Bills, and each brings a different layer of familiarity to the matchup. Van Roten is on injured reserve and wont be available, but the presence of so many former Bills in a Patriots uniform adds another wrinkle to a game Buffalo already views as must-watch. In the AFC East, the margins are usually thin enough without all the added history. [Read more 🡒]