The Buffalo Bills suffered a significant pre-kickoff blow ahead of their AFC wild-card matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars, with running back Ty Johnson officially ruled inactive due to an ankle injury.
Any remaining doubt surrounding Ty Johnson’s availability was put to rest on Sunday morning, when RotoWire confirmed Johnson was ruled inactive due to an ankle injury. The decision followed a week in which the Bills running back failed to practice in full, reinforcing concerns that the issue he suffered in the regular-season finale had not healed in time for the wild-card matchup.
Johnson picked up the injury in Week 18 vs the New York Jets, a game in which he logged a season-high 13 carries as Buffalo rested starter James Cook ahead of the playoffs. The added workload proved costly, with Johnson missing early-week walkthroughs and practices before returning in a limited capacity on Friday.
Concerns escalated Sunday morning when Cameron Wolfe reported that Johnson arrived at EverBank Stadium wearing a walking boot on his injured right ankle, an ominous sign just hours before kickoff.
Buffalo further hinted at Johnson’s likely absence by elevating Frank Gore Jr. from the practice squad on Saturday. With Johnson sidelined, the Bills are expected to rely more heavily on Cook, while Ray Davis and Gore Jr. handle complementary roles.
Johnson’s absence is notable because of his importance on third downs, pass protection, and obvious passing situations. However, it could also force Buffalo to expand Cook’s role in the passing game — something fans have been calling for during his career-best 2025 season.
