Packers eye $20 million veteran, former No. 1 pick to fill major positional need

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - November 16, 2025 A Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium turned into a stage for one man, the blue-and-red warrior who made the Buccaneers' defense crumble and earned even his rival's respect. Orchard Park, New York. It's rare for Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles to praise an opposing player, especially after a loss on the road. But following Tampa Bay's shocking 32-44 defeat to the Buffalo Bills in the 1:00 PM ET kickoff on November 16, 2025, Bowles couldn't hold back his admiration, even through disappointment. "I'm very upset we lost," Bowles admitted after the game. "But to be honest, the Bills have a monster at running back. He's not just talented, he's smart, relentless, and nearly impossible to stop when he gets into space. We prepared for Cook all week, but number 26? We had no answer for him. That 52-yarder killed us." A Perfect Performance Under the Afternoon Highmark Sun Even with Josh Allen's historic 6-touchdown performance stealing headlines, Ty Johnson played like a man on a mission. The 27-year-old backup running back, number 26, caught 4 passes on 5 targets (80% catch rate) for 88 yards and a touchdown, including a devastating 52-yard score on a play-action that broke Tampa Bay's back in the second quarter, finishing as one of Buffalo's most efficient weapons against one of the league's toughest defenses. Completing 80% of his targets, Johnson constantly broke coverage and created explosive gains with 2 receiving first downs and zero mistakes throughout 60 minutes of play. On the defining play, he leaked out of the backfield after Allen's play-action fake, caught it at the 40, made linebacker SirVocea Dennis miss with a subtle juke, then outran safety Antoine Winfield Jr. all the way to the end zone, reaching a top speed of 21.3 MPH—the fastest by any Bills player all season. According to Next Gen Stats, Ty Johnson's 52-yard touchdown was the longest reception by a Bills running back in 2025. ESPN called him "the unsung hero in Buffalo's statement win," while NFL.com wrote: "Johnson defines explosive playmaking. 88 yards with 22.0 yards per catch against this Buccaneers defense doesn't happen by accident." TY JOHNSON. 52 YARD HOUSE CALL. #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/J1nS1OJNSv — Pay The Bills | A Trainwreck Sports Production (@PayTheBillsPod) November 16, 2025 Bills Mafia Embodied in Every Route After the game, Johnson didn't boast; he simply said one sentence that defined his mentality: "If you're not ready to seize your opportunity when it comes, you don't deserve to wear this jersey." Those words echoed through the Bills locker room, because everyone knows they have a depth weapon, a running back who doesn't talk much but lets his play do the talking. 📊 Ty Johnson's Week 11 Performance: Receiving: Receptions: 4 catches (80% catch rate) Receiving yards: 88 yards (22.0 yards per catch) Touchdowns: 1 (52-yard TD) First downs: 2 Yards After Catch: 61 yards (69% of total) In a season where the Buffalo Bills are cementing their AFC elite status at 7-3 with a dominant home performance, Ty Johnson has become a symbol of precision, explosiveness, and warrior heart. And for Todd Bowles and the Buccaneers (6-4), this Sunday afternoon loss serves as a reminder that sometimes, no game plan can stop a true "monster." 💙❤️ "That 52-yarder changed the entire game," Bowles concluded. "And honestly, I think the entire NFL should start paying attention to Buffalo's depth. They've got weapons everywhere."