The Buffalo Bills kick off their preseason on Saturday with a contest against the New York Giants. While many starters, including Josh Allen, won’t participate in that game, there are a handful of players who need strong performances to lock down roster spots and/or roles on the team. While the final outcome ultimately doesn't matter, this is one of the most important contests of the season for several players.
One such player is Ray Davis, who is expected to get the start with James Cook in the midst of a holdout. Davis had a strong rookie season despite being a Day 3 pick and playing behind Cook. But going into Year 2, he is hoping to carve out a bigger role in the offense.
Ray Davis Could Be Week 1 Starter For Bills
The expectation is that the Bills will sign Cook at some point in the preseason and he’ll be ready for Week 1. But with Cook sitting out padded practices this week, that is no longer a guarantee. The recent extension with Kyren Williams and the Rams should help speed the contract negotiations along, but that has yet to happen.
Davis could ease the minds of a lot of Bills fans with a strong performance in the team’s first preseason game. And while he isn’t viewed as a long-term starter, Davis does fit well in Buffalo’s offense as a between-the-tackle runner who can grind out the tough yards. Davis ran for over 400 yards as a rookie, and while his overall yards per carry were low (3.9 yards per carry), that can partially be explained by his usage in short yardage.
If Cook were to miss Week 1 or any regular season games, you can expect Davis to be the early-down starter and for Ty Johnson to get more work in the passing game. Davis wouldn’t be a 1:1 replacement for Cook, but he is a more physical runner and showed some elite flashes during his rookie season.
Keep an eye on Cook during the preseason and especially against the Giants as the former Kentucky star should see plenty of work. It would be foolish to think that a strong performance might cause Buffalo’s front office to think twice about giving Cook a new deal, but it could ease some of their concerns if he isn’t available early in the season.
This is a big-time opportunity for Davis to show that he can be one of the league’s best backup running backs and that he deserves more touches in Joe Brady’s offense.