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Cook's OTA Absence No Worry for Bills' Brady
10 Jun
Summary
- Joe Brady trusts James Cook will be ready for Week 1 despite missing OTAs.
- Cook won the NFL rushing title after a similar holdout in the 2025 offseason.
- All Bills players attended mandatory minicamp, including injured players.
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady expressed no concern over star running back James Cook's absence from voluntary offseason workouts. Brady believes Cook will be prepared for the Week 1 matchup against the Texans, referencing Cook's performance last season. In 2025, Cook held out of training camp before signing a four-year contract, subsequently leading the league in rushing yards and touchdowns.
Cook's performance in the 2025 season, which included a career-high 1,621 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, demonstrated his ability to perform despite prior offseason absences. This marked a significant improvement from his initial NFL seasons, where his touchdown production was notably lower. Brady anticipates this consistent high level of play to continue.
Furthermore, the Bills saw perfect attendance at their mandatory minicamp on June 10, 2026. This included players managing injuries, such as linebacker Dorian Williams, whose injury status and return timeline remain unclear. Pass rusher Michael Hoecht, recovering from an Achilles injury, is expected to be ready for training camp, having already participated in individual drills during minicamp.
