Ty

Johnson

The Bills would save $9.6 million in cap space with a release of the veteran tight end, and Jaxson Hawes played well enough in his rookie season to believe he could step into a featured role as the No. 1 blocking tight end. Given how deep the Bills are in cap hell — they project to be over the cap by $7 million before the offseason starts — lopping off Knox definitely is in play at this point. Buscaglia also projects Curtis Samuel ($6.05 million in cap savings) and Ty Johnson ($2.45 million) as potential candidates for release as the Bills look to get cap compliant.

Johnson came into the weekend listed as questionable after a single limited session in practice this week, ultimately deemed inactive for the second consecutive playoff contest. Expect Ray Davis to once again fill in as the primary change of pace and clear passing situation back, as he did in the Wild Card win over the Jaguars. Also inactive for the Bills are LB Terrel Bernard, S Jordan Poyer, CB Maxwell Hairston, OT Tylan Grable, DT Phidarian Mathis, and TE Keleki Latu.

Johnson got in a limited session on Thursday, which is very similar to his Friday limited last week after two DNPs that also got him to the questionable line. Our guess is that he’s on the pessimistic side of questionable. If Johnson doesn’t play, Ray Davis will be a threat for a higher snap count than usual again and be a potential DFS play for the Divisional Round slate.

Johnson missed the Wild Card Round because of the ankle issue. Two DNPs to open this week suggest he will sit for at least one more game. Ray Davis didn’t touch the ball last week and Frank Gore Jr. caught his only target. Johnson’s likely absence will simply mean more snaps for James Cook.

He got in a limited practice before hitting the questionable line and being ruled out Sunday against the Jaguars. He’s probably a true question mark at this point to be ready against the Broncos on Saturday, with practice participation being the guiding light here. If all he can do is get in another limited Thursday session ahead of a tag, Johnson probably will sit again.

Johnson suffered the ankle injury in the Bills’ final game of the regular season. He only practiced once this week before being listed as questionable. Ray Davis will see more work in his absence. James Cook could also be used more on passing plays, upping his fantasy value for Sunday’s DFS slate. Kicker Matt Prater is active.

He got in a limited Friday practice to hit the questionable line after a pair of missed sessions on Wednesday and Thursday. Even if Johnson is active, the Bills could lean a little more on Ray Davis if they don’t trust what the saw on Friday. Johnson’s hard to trust in DFS and Playoff Best Ball lineups this week.

The Bills could simply be giving Johnson, their reliable passing down back, an extra day of rest. Thursday absences are often bad signs, though. If he can resume practicing tomorrow, he should be good to go for his team’s Wild Card Round game against the Jaguars. With QB Josh Allen nursing a foot injury, having Johnson available for checkdown passes would be beneficial.

The shifty pass catcher and change-of-pace player has been a valuable contributor this season. He still has a few days to get back on track for Sunday, but if Johnson were to sit out the Bills’ Wild Card Round game against the Jaguars, it would likely add passing down work to RB James Cook’s workload.

The Bills were doing everything in their power to get Johnson his second touchdown of the day in the second half so that he could earn a $250,000 incentive. He was stuffed on the one-yard line on three straight plays late in the third quarter before the Bills were finally able to get Johnson in the end zone as a receiver in the fourth quarter. Johnson has been a valuable scat back for the Bills this season.