James Cook has blossomed into one of the best running backs in the NFL, including serving as the league’s rushing leader during the 2025 campaign. But Cook has been plagued with a case of the fumbles since the start of the 2025 season, a problem that is once again rearing its ugly head early in 2026.
While the Buffalo Bills (4-1) were able to overcome a pair of costly Cook fumbles in last week’s primetime win over the Los Angeles Rams, Cook needs to get better at taking care of the football, a point
that his head coach reiterated several times this week during sessions with the media.
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Heading into a Week 6 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders, Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by examining Cook’s fumbling issue, including why Brady said Cook could see his workload reduced if he doesn’t find a way to hang onto the football.
Check out the news items below and then let us know your thoughts on Cook’s issues with ball security in the comments section.
Joe Brady issues warning to James Cook
Last season, while leading all running backs in rushing yards with 1,621 yards, James Cook managed to cough up the football a league-high six times (seven if you include the playoffs). Through the first five games of this year, Cook has already fumbled the football four times, which gives him 11 fumbles in just 24 games dating back to the beginning of the 2025 season.
What’s most troubling about Cook’s fumbling is it appears to be a recent problem. Cook fumbled just six times over his first 750 touches during his first three seasons (playoffs included), which equates to one fumble for every 125 carries/touches. Since the start of last year, Cook has given the ball away 11 times over 487 touches, once every 44 times he has the ball in his hands.
After being pressed on the issue a few times earlier in the week, Brady admitted that as talented as Cook is, and as dangerous of a weapon he is for Buffalo’s offense, something has got to change with the fumbles.
“That can’t happen, and it’s going to cost us football games,” Brady said Tuesday, “and it almost cost us (Monday night). We can’t confuse that because we won the game. That’s OK. “It’s got to improve, or the carries are going to decrease.”
Despite the fumbles, Brady knows exactly how valuable Cook is to this offense—he’s clearly the second most talented player behind Josh Allen—and Brady stands by his bell cow back, even after the ball security issues.
“He’s doing so many good things running the football, and I don’t want to lose sight of how great he’s running the ball right now,” Brady said. “But we’re putting the ball on the ground, and it’s negating all the positive.”
For his part, Cook accepts full responsibility for his fumbles and knows he needs to figure out this issue, and fast.
“It could of just changed the game,” Cook said. “Just gotta hold onto it and just work on it each and every day. … Just need to take more care of the ball and hold myself accountable.”
If Cook’s carries do decrease, former fourth-round pick Ray Davis would appear to be the most likely candidate to receive those touches.
- Joe Brady warns James Cook’s carries will drop if Bills RB keeps fumbling – newyorkupstate.com
- Bills’ Joe Brady warns James Cook could lose carries if fumbling continues – The Athletic (subscription required)
- Bills’ Brady warns RB Cook of ‘consequences’ for costly fumbles – ESPN.com Buffalo Bills blog
- Bills say NFL rushing champion could lose carries if fumbles continue – Democrat & Chronicle
- James Cook’s fumbles spark questions; Bills coaches remain confident – WGRZ
- Joe Brady: Bills could decrease James Cook’s carries if ball security doesn’t improve – NFL.com
- Bills’ Joe Brady threatens playing time ‘consequences’ for James Cook III over fumble issues – CBS Sports
Even more Bills news
The Bills get good news on the injury front as starting right tackle Spencer Brown was a full participant during Thursday’s practice and nickel cornerbacks Dee Alford and Te’Cory Couch appear poised to return to the lineup Sunday vs. the Raiders. Plus, Buffalo brings back cornerback Anthony Kendall to the practice squad; find out what led Rams offensive lineman Alaric Jackson to throw a punch at Greg Rousseau; and more!
- Spencer Brown upgraded to a full practice participant Thursday for Bills – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Health at nickel cornerback improving for Bills – WGR 550
- Bills’ Week 6 Injuries: Thursday Practice Updates for DJ Moore, Ed Oliver, Dee Alford – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Bills re-sign defensive back Anthony Kendall to practice squad – Buffalo News (subscription required)
- Bradley Chubb shares what he said to Alaric Jackson before Rams tackle threw punch – The Athletic (subscription required)
- Rams starter pays price for punching Buffalo Bills’ Bradley Chubb after OT thriller – newyorkupstate.com
- Chubb details pre-punch convo with Jackson: Wasn’t talking about his mom – ESPN.com Buffalo Bills blog
- Bills’ Bradley Chubb Reveals What Was Said Prior to Postgame Physical Altercation – Sports Illustrated Buffalo Bills
- Greg Rousseau named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week – WGR 550
- Bills linebacker earns AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor for clutch play in overtime – WGRZ
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- Spencer Brown back at full speed – Buffalo Rumblings
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- Joe Brady likes what he’s seen out of Bills’ current starting LB unit – Buffalo Rumblings
- Greg Rousseau is your AFC Special Teams Player of the Week – Buffalo Rumblings
- Are the Bills headed in the right direction after Week 5 win? – Buffalo Rumblings
- What Bills snap counts reveal about OT escape vs. Rams – Buffalo Rumblings
- Can you guess this Bills defensive tackle in today’s in-5 trivia game – Buffalo Rumblings
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