Bills Predicted to Part Ways With Fan-Favorite Running Back

The Buffalo Bills are bringing a deep and talented backfield into the 2025 season, which could lead to a difficult decision on one fan-favorite player.

The backfield will be led by James Cook, who is heading into the final season of his rookie contract with an uncertain future ahead. The Bills are also expected to get some big contributions out of second-year running back Ray Davis and the versatile Ty Johnson, while fullback Reggie Gilliam is considered a lock for the roster due to his special teams abilities.

That leaves popular running back Frank Gore Jr. on the wrong side of the roster bubble — which could put the team in a very precarious spot at the end of the summer.

Bills Expected to Waive Frank Gore Jr.

In a pre-training camp prediction of the team’s final 53-man roster, reporter Sal Maiorana of the Democrat & Chronicle noted that Cook will be motivated to prove himself this season as he works toward a new contract, with Davis and Johnson providing depth behind him.

“[Cook is] not happy about his financial situation after seeing several teammates get new deals, and he needs to use that as fuel to establish his market. Johnson and Davis provide excellent depth with divergent skill sets, and Gilliam will likely be back because he is the only fullback on the roster and also a core special teams player,” Maiorana wrote.

That left no room for Gore, who earned a spot on the practice squad last season. Gore is the son of former Bills running back Frank Gore, who played in Buffalo in 2019. He quickly became a favorite of fans, topping 100 yards in the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers.

Gore said he fell in love with Buffalo when his father played on the team, saying he remembered cold trips to Western New York to watch him play.

“It was great,” Gore Jr. said, via CBS Sports. “I came to like three games. It was cold when they played the Jets at the end of the season. This is one of the most enthusiastic places I’ve ever been.”

Gore added that he wanted to sign with the Bills after going undrafted last season.

“Knowing that my dad wanted me here. I wanted to be here,” Gore Jr. said. “When me and Coach Skip [Kelly Skipper] met over the process, I just got the vibe that he’s the type of coach that I need to get better and the type of coach that I want to be the best player that I can possibly be.”

Frank Gore Could Return to Important Role

If Gore has another strong performance in the preseason, it could be difficult for the Bills to get him through waivers and to the practice squad. The team has lost other good players in recent years due to their roster depth, with other teams snagging them after final cuts in August.

But if the Bills are able to keep Gore on their practice squad, he could have an important role in providing capable depth in case of injury. That was a path that Johnson took to the active roster, being signed from the practice squad during the 2023 season when veteran running back Damien Harris suffered a neck injury.