The Buffalo Bills kick off training camp on July 29 at St. John Fisher. This moves the team into the next major phase of the offseason ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
Ahead of then, Bills Wire will examine every position group ahead of this pivotal time on the football calendar.
This edition will focus on the Bills' running back unit:
At the top of the chart
James Cook broke out with a stellar 2025 season, silencing any critics who criticized the Bills for signing him to a four-year, $46 million contract extension last August. Cook led the NFL in rushing yards, piling up 1,621 yards on the ground last year. He added 12 rushing touchdowns as well. Any worries about his durability were thwarted, as Cook rushed a career-best 309 times, a total good for the third-most in the league.
Cook was efficient in the passing game as well. He reeled in 33 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns.
All of this earned Cook second-team All-Pro honors for his breakout 2025 campaign.
Depth chart
Ray Davis and Ty Johnson will be the primary reserves for Cook.
Davis rushed 58 times for 275 yards. He added 10 receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns.
Johnson works as the team's third-down back. Johnson had 50 carries for 200 yards and three touchdown rushes. In addition, Johnson had 24 catches for 263 yards and two touchdown receptions.
Frank Gore Jr and Ian Wheeler round out the running back group.
The Bills also signed fullbacks Ben VanSumeren as a free agent from Philadelphia and Jackson Acker as UDFA this offseason.
Battle to watch
Interestingly enough, the fullback position is the one that is the most intriguing to follow. Van Sumeren, originally a linebacker, moved to fullback when he initially signed with Philadelphia in 2024. Van Sumeren is returning from a torn patellar tendon, an injury that placed him on IR for the 2025 season.
Acker is a versatile lead blocker who can also catch the occasional pass.
With Reggie Gilliam leaving via free agency, the fullback spot is up for grabs. Gilliam played 259 offensive snaps last year, so there is a decent chunk of playing time that needs to be accounted for.
Who really needs a great camp?
Ray Davis saw his production basically cut in half from his rookie season to last year. Now, a good chunk of this has to do with Cook's performance. Nonetheless, there were rumblings this summer that Davis was not happy with his workload from the previous year.
With a strong camp, Davis can show he can chip away at some of the Cook's touches. Now, Cook is going to be the No. back, without a doubt. However, Davis's showing could give head coach Joe Brady a little more confidence in alleviating some of the pressure from Cook's shoulders.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 2026 Buffalo Bills training camp preview: Running backs
