Joe Brady is sending a warning to James Cook.
The Buffalo Bills head coach told reporters on Tuesday that if James Cook does not stop fumbling, he will see his carries decrease.
“I don’t want to lose sight of how great he is running the ball right now,” head coach Joe Brady said Tuesday, according to Bills beat reporter Alex Brasky “But putting the ball on the ground, it’s negating all the positive. I have all the confidence in him. That’s why I put him right back out there. But obviously at some point there has to be consequences to when we’re putting negative stuff out there.”
Joe Brady threatens James Cook’s playing time: “We’re putting the ball in harm’s way.. It’s negating all the positive.. I have confidence in him.. At some point there has to be consequences..It’s gotta improve or the carries are gonna decrease.” https://t.co/QdtGWnHmji
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) October 13, 2026
“It’s going to cost us football games,” Brady added. “It almost cost us one. We can’t confuse because we won the game that that’s okay. It’s got to improve or the carries are going to decrease.”
Cook rushed for 111 yards with two touchdowns during the Bills’ 37-34 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. However, the star running back fumbled twice, including once in overtime as the Bills were driving and were just outside the red zone. The fumble would’ve cost Buffalo the game if it wasn’t for Greg Rousseau’ blocking a potential game-winning field goal on the Rams’ ensuing drive.
Cook, who’s third in the NFL with 532 yards on the ground this season, has fumbled 11 times since the start of the 2025 campaign – a total that tops non-quarterback players.
The Bills (4-1) visit the Las Vegas Raiders (3-2) on Sunday in Week 6.
