Bills Get Amazing News On James Cook

The Buffalo Bills returned to practice on Tuesday after completing their first preseason game of the season. Buffalo fell to the New York Giants on Saturday, but the score wasn’t the story of the afternoon.

Before the game even started, Bills running back James Cook was seen in full uniform warming up with the team. The week leading into the preseason game, the two-time Pro Bowl running back started sitting out practice.

Bills Running Back James Cook Has Missed Practice

Cook is in the final year of his contract and has been looking for a new deal. All offseason, Cook’s contract talks were the story for the Bills, but nothing was done.

A few weeks ago, Buffalo opened training camp, and Cook was there practicing with the rest of the team. But things changed about ten days ago when two players looking for new contracts in the league demanded trades.

Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin is in the final year of his deal. Washington has shown no signs of waning to give him a new long-term contract, so he asked to be traded. Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons is in the same boat, looking for a new contract, but the Cowboys haven’t met his request. Parsons took matters into his own hands and asked for a trade.

Two-star players looking for contracts asked to be traded, and a few days later, Cook stopped practicing. McLaurin and Parsons’ trade requests probably made Cook rethink his role and why he is even participating in practice.

Last Thursday, Cook was expected to return to practice, but he never showed up. Things must’ve changed when he dressed for the first preseason game because on Tuesday, the 25-year-old running back returned to practice.

 Cook Is Back At Practice

Bills head coach Sean McDermott spoke on Cook’s status before practice and stated. “I would say that things have changed. And yes, we have had conversations with James,” via Joe Buscaglia. “Good conversations that I’ve mentioned before. The information that we’re getting is that he is moving towards practicing. We’ll see in a few minutes here.”

Bills running back James Cook is back at practice today: pic.twitter.com/yXStMxJrmC

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 12, 2025

Cook’s return to practice is excellent news for the team. Buffalo is one of the few teams that can win the Super Bowl this season, so having their 1,000-yard back on the field could help them reach the big game.

Who knows where contract talks stand between Cook and the team? But if Cook plays well this season, then he can demand a lot of money on the open market and get his long-term contract elsewhere.

The Bills open their first regular-season game against the Baltimore Ravens in a little over three weeks. It seems like Cook will be out there running over the Ravens’ defense.