Kentucky product Ray Davis to make NFL starting debut on Monday Night Football
By Mark Knight
It's official: Ray Davis will be making his NFL starting debut tonight for the Buffalo Bills, with James Cook being declared out. Cook has been dealing with a toe issue and only got one limited practice session in on Saturday. Davis has been the backup all season, getting limited reps.
It will be a big assignment to step into the starting role on Monday Night Football when the whole nation is watching. But he seems to shine the brightest under the lights as he scored his first touchdown on Monday Night Football in week 3.
Davis was an electric running back for the Kentucky Wildcats. He transferred to Kentucky from Vanderbilt and appeared in 13 games for the Wildcats, where he set the single-season touchdown record for a running back with 21 total touchdowns. Davis totaled 1,129 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. He also hauled in 33 passes for 323 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Bills will need him as they have lost their last two games and need a big win to get the season back on track tonight. They also love to pound the rock. They are 14th in the league in rushing yards per game. They will give Davis a healthy dose of running the ball but will also use him in the passing game.
He will most likely split reps with Ty Johnson, and we may even see a little Frank Gore mixed in, as the Bills elevated him from their practice squad today. They needed Gore to make sure they had enough healthy backs, but they may not use him a whole lot.
Davis currently has 26 carries for 75 yards and a touchdown. He has also contributed to the passing attack with 4 receptions for 18 yards. He simply hasn't had enough runs to be all that productive, but tonight, he will get his chance to show the NFL world what he can do.