James Cook sits out Bills practice for first time amid contract stalemate, cites 'business'

The James Cook hold-in has commenced.

After participating at practice since the start of Bills training camp, Buffalo's Pro Bowl running back showed up to Sunday's session in street clothes. When asked by reporters why he didn't participate, Cook offered a one-word answer:

"Business," Cook said.

When asked about practicing on Monday, Cook offered the same answer: "Business."

Per ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg, Cook kept repeating the word "business" to reporters from there. The Bills declined to comment on the situation, according to Getzenberg.

So it's safe to say that Cook's lack of participation was business-related. 

Cook shows up to practice in sweats

Cook's been seeking a new deal the entire offseason. Despite the lack of progress on an extension, he participated at mandatory minicamp and during the opening days of training camp practice. But it was clear from the start of Sunday's session that he wasn't participating when he showed up wearing white sweats, no pads and a beanie. 

Instead of running drills, Cook got his work done Sunday on a sideline exercise bike. 

Cook, 25, is approaching the final season of his four-year, $5.8 million rookie contract that he signed after the Bills selected him in the second round of the 2022 draft. He's made the Pro Bowl twice while posting 1,200-plus yards from scrimmage in each of the last two seasons. 

He led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024. He's done so for a Bills team that enters 2025 seeking its sixth straight AFC East championship and hoping to contend for the Super Bowl. 

Where things stand between Cook, Bills

Cook's previously indicated on social media that he's seeking a contract valued at $15 million per season. That would make him the league's third-highest paid running back in terms of annual value behind Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey. Per Over The Cap, his current average annual contract value of $1.46 million makes him the league's 51st-highest paid running back. 

Cook addressed his contract status on July 24, shortly after the start of training camp. 

“I mean, we have talks. I’m never going to give up,” Cook said of negotiations with the Bills, per The Athletic. “I mean, I deserve it — what I want, what I need. It’s going to eventually happen.”

When asked how confident he was in a deal getting done, Cook said this:

“I mean, however it happens, it’s going to get done," Cook said. "Wherever it happens."

Brooke Sutton via Getty Images

That same day, Bills general manager Brandon Beane addressed Cook's contract situation.

“As I’ve said all along, I love James Cook," Beane told reporters. "I want nothing more — you know how I am, I want to draft, develop, re-sign our own. 

"It is a business. We have to fit it in, not only cash, but cap. And sometimes it’s not — you can look at it and say, well, you go this website or whatever, they could fit him in if they did this and this. But we also have to look at ’26, ’27, and beyond because you can walk yourself into one of those years where you’re like, oh man, there’s not a lot of guys we can take down on those years. 

"We would have to trade or cut someone that we wouldn’t want to lose. So, it’s not only 2025 when we’re doing a deal with him or any other player. So, all those things have to make sense for us to fit it in."

Without a contract extension, Cook would enter next offseason as a free agent, though the Bills in that instance could opt to apply the franchise tag. 

But that's not the immediate concern in Buffalo. For now, the Bills are trying to win a Super Bowl. And the status of their Pro Bowl running back is up in the air as Buffalo approaches its third week of training camp.