Last season, the Buffalo Bills led the NFL in rushing yards and dynamic running back James Cook was the NFL’s rushing champion after scampering for 1,621 yards on 309 carries, a robust 5.2 yards per run.
The Bills have a crowded running back room, led by Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis and practice squad back Frank Gore Jr., but on Thursday, Brandon Beane brought in another option for the Bills’ backfield when he signed United Football League MVP Ian Wheeler.
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Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by introducing Wheeler to Bills fans, although some fans will recall Wheeler enjoying a pair of solid preseason performances for the Chicago Bears against Buffalo.
Check out the assessments of Wheeler’s skillset and then let us know how you think Wheeler will contribute in the comments section.
The Buffalo Bills know a little bit about their latest member of the backfield, as Ian Wheeler made an impression on the team through his performances in both the 2024 and 2025 NFL preseasons.
Wheeler, who signed with the Bears as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Howard University in 2024, played two preseason games for the Bears against the Bills. In 2024, he rushed five times for 43 yards with a pair of touchdowns in a 33-6 Bears win at Highmark Stadium.
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Then, in a 38-0 win in 2025, Wheeler rushed 19 times for 80 yards and a pair of TDs, giving him 24 carries for 123 yards and four TDs against the Bills in two preseason games.
Wheeler suffered a torn ACL before roster cuts were made in 2024 and was released by the Bears. He spent time on the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad before claiming United Bowl MVP honors after rushing for 81 yards and the go-ahead TD as the Louisville Kings won the UFL championship. During the 2026 UFL season, Wheeler amassed 541 rushing yards on 83 carries in 11 games, scoring eight touchdowns. In the playoffs, Wheeler averaged 10 yards per carry, finishing with 170 yards and two TDs on 17 carries.
While at Howard, Wheeler totaled 1,154 rushing yards with 14 touchdowns, caught 23 passes for 234 yards, and averaged 25.4 yards per kickoff return on 42 runbacks with three TDs.
He will look to make another impression on the Bills’ brass with a strong showing at training camp.
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Hear from quarterback Josh Allen on what impressed him the most about Buffalo’s offseason workout program. Plus, how rookie offensive lineman Jude Bowry came to be called “The Bear;” checking in on Buffalo’s roster after the conclusion of mandatory minicamp; identifying the best and worst Bills uniforms in franchise history; and more!
