The Buffalo Bills experienced an unexpected shift at running back on Monday.
Prior to their Week 6 matchup against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football, James Cook was ruled out due to a toe injury that had been bothering him. This was the first game Cook has missed in his three-year NFL career.
As a result, head coach Sean McDermott promoted Ray Davis from the depth chart. Davis quickly made a mark, racking up over 100 yards from scrimmage in the first half against the Jets.
Who is Ray Davis?
Running back Ray Davis was selected by the Bills as the 128th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He began his college career at Temple in 2019, where he had an impressive freshman season, rushing for 936 yards and scoring eight touchdowns, earning first-team Freshman All-American honors. In his sophomore year, he rushed for 323 yards in only four games before transferring.
Davis transferred to Vanderbilt in 2021, where he started strong, rushing for 211 yards and a touchdown in his first three games before an injury cut his season short. The following year, he bounced back, earning fourth-team All-SEC honors by recording five games with over 100 rushing yards, totaling 1,042 yards and five touchdowns.
In 2023, Davis made another transfer, this time to Kentucky, where he made an impressive debut, rushing for 112 yards and two touchdowns.
Ray Davis stats:
Ray Davis stands at 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 211 pounds. He has hands measuring 8⅞ inches and arms that are 30¼ inches long, with a wingspan of 72¼ inches. In terms of speed, he clocked a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash. His athleticism is further demonstrated by a vertical jump of 35 inches and a broad jump of 9 feet 11 inches.
Ray Davis Ready for NFL Starting Debut with Buffalo Bills
Ray Davis is set to make his NFL starting debut tonight for the Buffalo Bills, as James Cook has been ruled out due to a toe injury. Cook managed only a limited practice on Saturday. Davis has served as the backup throughout the season, receiving minimal playing time. Taking on the starting role in a high-profile Monday Night Football game is a significant challenge, especially with the national spotlight on him. However, Davis has a knack for performing well in these situations, having scored his first touchdown on Monday Night Football in Week 3.
Davis was an electrifying running back for the Kentucky Wildcats after transferring from Vanderbilt. During his time at Kentucky, he played in 13 games and set a single-season record for running backs with 21 total touchdowns. He amassed 1,129 rushing yards and scored 14 rushing touchdowns, while also catching 33 passes for 323 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Bills will rely on him, especially after losing their last two games and needing a significant win to get their season back on track tonight. They have a strong running game, ranking 14th in the league in rushing yards per game, and plan to feature Davis prominently, both on the ground and in the passing game.
Davis is expected to share carries with Ty Johnson, and there’s a possibility we’ll see some action from Frank Gore, who was elevated from the practice squad today to ensure the team has enough healthy running backs. However, Gore may not see extensive playing time.
Ray Davis NFL statistics
In NFL Week 6 So far , Davis has recorded 26 carries for 75 yards and one touchdown, along with 4 receptions for 18 yards in the passing game. He hasn’t had enough opportunities to fully showcase his abilities, but tonight he’ll have the chance to demonstrate what he can do on a bigger stage in the NFL .