DETROIT 鈥 In the first quarter Sunday, Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson felt a bit of trepidation. Quarterback Josh Allen was looking his way, and Johnson knew what that would mean for his lower body.
鈥淚 was actually kind of nervous, because I was like 鈥(Are) my legs ready to run right now?鈥 鈥 Johnson said.
Yes, they were.
Buffalo Bills running back Ty Johnson converted a fourth-and-2 last week at Detroit with a 31-yard catch.
In the Bills鈥 48-42 win over the Detroit Lions, Johnson finished with 123 all-purpose yards, including a career-high 114 receiving yards, which led the Bills and came on five catches on five targets.
Johnson became the first Bills running back to surpass 100 receiving yards since Fred Jackson in 2010.
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In Bills franchise history, there only have been seven instances of a running back having more receiving yards in a game than Johnson鈥檚 114, with the most recent case being Thurman Thomas鈥 150 receiving yards on 13 catches in 1990.
It didn鈥檛 take long for Johnson to get involved.
鈥淭y set the tone for us,鈥 Bills running back Ray Davis said.
On the second play of the day for the Bills鈥 offense, Allen threw deep left to Johnson for a 33-yard reception.
鈥淥h, I was (expletive) lit,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥淪orry for language, but it was really just knowing my job and my assignment and executing. 鈥
鈥淏ut Josh, even though he had coverage on me, Josh trusted to put the ball in the spot just for me.鈥
Allen went right back to Johnson on third-and-5 for a 24-yard reception. The Bills scored a touchdown two plays later.
鈥淚 think he鈥檚 really smart, and I think he鈥檚 the best third-down back in the game,鈥 Allen said. 鈥淭he way we communicate, the way he sees protections 鈥 he plays the game the right way. He鈥檚 another guy on this team we don鈥檛 call a 鈥榬unning back.鈥 He鈥檚 a 鈥榝ootball player,鈥 who plays running back.
鈥淗e鈥檚 constantly running toward the ball helping people up and saying the right things. He鈥檚 a big reason why we are where we are.鈥
Four of Johnson鈥檚 five catches came in the first half. His last catch came with 14:20 left to go in the third quarter.
Johnson鈥檚 previous career high in receiving yards was 71 versus Cincinnati in Oct. 2021, when Johnson was with the New York Jets.
But Johnson had a feeling this week that he would be able to have a big receiving game, particularly against the Lions鈥 man coverage.
鈥淎bsolutely,鈥 Johnson said. 鈥(Offensive coordinator) Joe (Brady) was telling us all week, we got to eat when they go man. And he told me yesterday, especially on third downs, just go eat, go win. And I鈥檓 just grateful that he gave me the opportunity to do so.鈥
But even outside of the Lions鈥 scheme, a few Bills teammates were expecting a strong game from Johnson based off what he showed last week. In the loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Johnson had 55 receiving yards, including a 41-yard touchdown reception.
鈥淗e saw it all the way back to last week when he had the screen for the touchdown,鈥 center Connor McGovern said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 just great. I love every time he gets the ball, he just puts his shoulder down, brings this extra grit to the offense.鈥
鈥淚 think him being able to build off of last week, too,鈥 added left guard David Edwards. 鈥淗e did some awesome stuff in the screen game last week. And again, his ability to understand our run plan, our pass plan 鈥 he鈥檚 such a versatile back that we鈥檙e lucky to have him. He鈥檚 such a stud.鈥
Johnson entered the NFL in 2019 as a sixth-round pick of the Lions. In 18 games with Detroit before he moved on to the Jets, Johnson had just 109 receiving yards total. He has evolved in Buffalo, and credits that in part to Brady and Bills running backs coach Kelly Skipper in their ways of preparing him each week.
Fellow running backs James Cook and Davis both praised Johnson for what he brings to the running back room, balancing being competitive and supportive. Bills coach Sean McDermott echoed that sentiment.
鈥淭he thing I love about Ty is there was a competition for the running back position early, and there always is 鈥 these guys, they鈥檙e friends, but they also challenge one another,鈥 McDermott said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e pushing each other, one guy has a good run, then the next guy wants to get out there and have a good run.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good rhythm, and then Ty has shown up in some other areas, one of which has been the passing game, and I love the fact that he鈥檚 embraced some of that and really working hard on being elite in that category.鈥
