Ty Johnson was an original draft pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was selected in the sixth round, 186th overall. He would eventually land on the New York Jets roster after they signed him in October 2020. He stayed with the Jets and resigned with the team as a free agent in March of this year; however, a month after resigning, the Jets released him.
The Buffalo Bills picked him up, and he found himself on the Bills practice squad, where he remained until being activated to the Bills 53-man roster on October 20th. He's been on the Bills' sideline for the previous four games but never received a carry until the Denver game, receiving just one carry, which went for two yards. He also never received a single target in the passing game.
I don't know if this was Coach McDermott telling Johnson here is your chance to get some revenge against your former team or maybe new offensive coordinator Joe Brady saying I have a plan for this guy. Either way, Johnson took full advantage of his opportunity and had Bills fans asking, who is number 26? It was also good to see the Bills getting their backs more involved in the pass game and Johnson was a significant part of that.
I literally said “who is that?!?” out loud on that 2nd down play action check down to Ty Johnson 🤣
— Greg Cover 1 🏈 (@GregTompsett) November 19, 2023
Johnson received three carries against the New York Jets for 11 yards and was targeted three times in the passing game for 47 yards, one of which went for 28 yards and a touchdown while helping the Buffalo Bills defeat the New York Jets by a score of 32 - 6. His 47 receiving yards were second on the team, after Khalil Shakir's team-leading 115.
With Leonard Fournette currently sitting on the Bills' practice squad, it's anyone's guess as to whether Johnson will remain on the Bills 53-man roster or moved back to the practice squad to make room for Fournette on the roster. If Johnson puts up more games like this in a supporting role, the Bills' decision will be difficult.