After a stellar season where he set a single-game UFL record with four rushing touchdowns, the United Bowl MVP Ian Wheeler returns to the NFL to earn his spot on the Buffalo Bills' 53-man roster.
UFL to NFL Training Camp Watch: Ian Wheeler
In UFL Week 5, Wheeler's outstanding performance against the Dallas Renegades set a spring league record for the Louisville Kings with 13 carries for 62 yards and four touchdowns. He was the first UFL player to reach the end zone four times in a single game.
During the Kings' incredible postseason run, Wheeler led the Kings’ ground attack with another 17 carries for 175 yards with two touchdowns, and 2 receptions for 58 yards. His game-winning 44-yard touchdown during the United Bowl gave the Kings a fourth-quarter lead and earned him the MVP award.
Wheeler Returns To The NFL
This is Wheeler’s second chance to make an NFL team roster. After the 24-year-old Howard University standout went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, he signed with the Chicago Bears as a UDFA. Wheeler's chances of making the 53-man roster looked good after he recorded a two-touchdown performance in a preseason game against Buffalo. But tragedy struck in the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs when Wheeler tore his ACL, ending his season before it even began.
It's in Wheeler's nature to find the positive in the midst of heartache.
"It was bittersweet," Wheeler said, reflecting on his rookie season spent on injured reserve. "You work hard and sometimes stuff does not go your way. But being placed on IR turned out to be a blessing. It gave me a chance to slow down, learn the game better, focus on my rehab and become the best version of myself for this coming season."
Wheeler's resilience in the face of such a devastating turn prepared him well for the challenges ahead. Maintaining a great attitude, he worked hard at rehab and never gave up hope of returning to the NFL and resuming his dream of a professional football career. Signing with the new UFL expansion team in Louisville for the 2026 season, he embraced the opportunity as a way to showcase his talents and prove he deserved another shot in the NFL. That opportunity came full circle when the Bills signed Wheeler to a one-year contract shortly after the conclusion of the Kings’ Championship season.
The Buffalo Bills Training Camp Competition
Now, Wheeler joins the same team that first spotted his potential after he memorably scored two touchdowns against them in a preseason game two years ago. As the Bills prepare for the upcoming NFL season, they have a new head coach. Former offensive coordinator Joe Brady is now the HC in Buffalo.
The Buffalo Offense
The Buffalo offense is built around the superlative talents of perennial MVP candidate Josh Allen. One of the NFL’s premier quarterbacks, the 6’5” nine-year veteran’s tremendous passing skills are matched by his reputation as one of the league’s most mobile and agile signal callers. Allen has over 30,000 career passing yards with 220 touchdowns, and another 79 rushing touchdowns on 871 carries for 4,721 yards. He is an elite talent who shows no sign of wavering in his quest to lead the team to the Super Bowl.
NFL Rushing Leader Owns The Bills’ Backfield
All-Pro running back James Cook III, the Bills’ 2022 second-round draft pick, leads the team's backfield. During his four seasons with Buffalo, Cook recorded 842 carries for 4,259 yards with 32 touchdowns. In 2024, he tied Jahmyr Gibbs and Derrick Henry for the most NFL touchdowns that season with 16 each.
In August of 2025, Cook was rewarded with a four-year $48 million dollar contract extension. Last season, he led the NFL in rushing yards with 309 carries for 1,621 yards with 12 touchdowns.
During OTAs, Brady was asked specifically if the team plans to continue Cook's exceptionally heavy workload. He acknowledged that because he was playing at such a high level, Cook’s workload expanded last year. However, this season, the goal is to spread the ball around more. Could Wheeler play a role in sharing some of that workload?
Wheeler’s Competition In The Bills’ Running Back Room
As the team gathers this week at St. John Fisher University, the competition will focus on the remaining running backs in the Buffalo ground game. Wheeler will be competing for touches against veteran running back Ty Johnson, return specialist Ray Davis, and second-year RB Frank Gore, Jr.
A veteran of four NFL teams, Johnson has been the Bills' RB2 for the past few seasons, with more than 1,400 rushing yards over the course of his eight-year career. In the past three seasons in Buffalo, he recorded 121 carries for 545 yards with four touchdowns and 49 receptions for 609 yards with six scores. Demonstrating their confidence in Johnson, the Bills signed him in March of last season to a two-year, $5 million contract.
Davis is coming off his first two seasons in the NFL with a total of 58 carries for 275 yards and three touchdowns. He has 27 career receptions for 275 yards with a 63-yard catch as his longest and five touchdowns. Where Davis distinguishes himself from his competition is on special teams as a kick return specialist. He recorded 38 kick returns for 1,090 yards with a 97-yard touchdown as his longest return.
Finally, Wheeler will also be competing for touches alongside Gore, Jr., who spent time on the Bills’ practice squad last season. Appearing in three preseason games, he recorded 23 carries for 104 yards with one touchdown plus 11 receptions for 109 yards.
How Wheeler Can Stand Out From The Competition
Wheeler's gritty mentality in overcoming hardship and continuing to pursue his goal of an NFL career is well matched by his talent. Despite the fact that he wasn't selected in the 2024 Draft, his Howard University Pro Day numbers and HBCU Combine results were impressive. At the Pro Day, Wheeler ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash, nailed a 38.5" vertical leap, and landed a 10' 4" broad jump. In addition to his speed and athleticism, he brings an unerring sense for finding the end zone.
The competition on the Bills' roster for an RB slot will be fierce. Johnson and Davis bring experience and familiarity with the team and playbook. Brady knows them well. Wheeler is an unknown. But that could also work in his favor. He proved to be swift, stealthy, and a dangerous, unseen scoring threat for Louisville. The opposition didn't see him coming. Perhaps, he could provide a sleeper element in the Bills' ground game.
At Howard, Wheeler was a Pre-Med student, studying to become a physician. Medical school was deferred in favor of a career in professional football. Hopefully, his medical studies will once again be put on the back burner as Wheeler achieves his dream of making the Bills' 53-man roster.