Our picks and predictions for the 2026 NFL season
Joe Rivera, Chris Bumbaca and Adam Kaufman break down their predictions for the 2026 NFL season on the latest episode of the Sports Seriously NFL Vodcast.
Buffalo Bills running back Ray Davis is among those battling for the team’s punt returner role. His efforts to earn the job may have been undone by an all-time announcer’s jinx from Andrew Catalon.
Catalon was setting the stage for Davis’ first punt return after Buffalo’s defense forced the Pittsburgh Steelers into a three-and-out on their opening drive.
“Joe Brady wanted to see Ray Davis return punts at night,” Catalon started. “He’s done it during the day.”
However, as Catalon finished his thought, Davis let the punt slip through his hands as he tried to catch it. The ball glanced off his chest and to the ground, where it took a massive bounce into the waiting arms of Brandin Echols.
“And that’s why he had him back there,” Catalon said, referencing Brady’s decision to give Davis some reps as a punt returner.
Davis has not been listed among the top punt returner options on Buffalo’s depth chart throughout the team’s releases during the preseason. Most recently, Mecole Hardman Jr. and Dante Pettis were listed as the starter and backup punt returners, so Davis may be a long shot to hold onto that role.
Nonetheless, Davis remains the Bills’ top-listed kick returner after he averaged an NFL-best 30.4 yards per kick return last season and scored a touchdown. He was named an All-Pro first teamer because of his strong performance in that role.
As such, Buffalo may have just been seeing whether the backup running back could add more return responsibilities to his plate, which would give the Bills more roster flexibility as the league’s 53-man roster deadline draws nearer.
But after Davis’ muff against the Steelers, the Bills may be reluctant to hand the role to the 26-year-old.