As the Bills' 2025 training camp winds down, star RB James Cook's contract holdout continues. GM Brandon Beane offers no timeline, raising offensive concerns.
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
As the final days of training camp at St. John Fisher tick away, a significant shadow looms over the Buffalo Bills. While the team made tactical moves on Monday to bolster its offensive line, the absence of star running back James Cook due to a contract standoff is the story dominating conversations and raising questions about the offense's readiness for the 2025 season.
There is 'no timeline' for resolving the contract standoff.
General Manager Brandon Beane addressed the media Monday but provided little comfort for fans anxious about James Cook's holdout. Stating there is 'no timeline' to resolve the contract dispute, Beane projected patience, but the reality is that the team's top running back has now missed his second straight day of crucial practice. With Cook being a central piece of the offensive game plan, his continued absence disrupts chemistry-building and preparation, creating a significant variable as the team looks to defend its AFC East crown.
While one key position faces uncertainty, the Bills took steps to solidify another. The team officially announced the signing of veteran offensive lineman Dan Feeney, a move that brings experience and versatility to the interior. To make room, guard Rush Reimer was released. Feeney is expected to compete for a key backup role, providing valuable depth behind the starters. This is a classic Beane move: constantly churning the bottom of the roster to find reliable, experienced players who can step in when needed.
With only two practices left at St. John Fisher, the intensity is ramping up for players on the roster bubble. Defensive tackle DeWayne Carter is a prime example, with his $1.27 million cap hit hanging in the balance as he fights for a spot on the 53-man roster. Meanwhile, veterans and rising stars alike are honing their craft. Cornerback Christian Benford spoke about his personal mantra to 'keep leveling up,' embodying the competitive spirit in a talented secondary. The focus is clearly shifting from installation to evaluation as the team prepares to break camp.
The release of the full preseason schedule serves as a stark reminder that the season is just around the corner. While analysts are high on the Bills, predicting another 12-5 season and division title thanks to the core of Josh Allen and Joey Bosa, the unresolved James Cook situation remains a critical question mark. The next few weeks will be telling, as roster cuts loom and the front office works to ensure its most potent offensive weapons are on the field and ready for Week 1.
