The Buffalo Bills escaped with a 37-34 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, but running back James Cook nearly cost them the game with a fumble in overtime. Now, Bills head coach Joe Brady is making it clear that Cook’s ball security issues won’t be tolerated for much longer.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Brady said that there have to be “consequences” if Cook’s fumbling problems continue, and that those consequences could include fewer carries for the team’s star running back.
Cook’s Costly Fumbles
Cook fumbled twice in Monday’s win over the Rams, including one that he lost in overtime. That brings his total to four fumbles on the season and 11 since the start of the 2025 season, including the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Nick Suss.
That’s the most of any non-quarterback in the NFL over that span. It’s a frustrating problem for a player who has also been the league’s leading rusher since the start of 2025, with 245 more yards than anyone else.
The overtime fumble came at about the worst possible time. Two minutes into the extra period, Cook lost the ball just outside the red zone on a drive that likely would have given the Bills the lead, handing the Rams a chance to win the game with any score.
Fortunately for Buffalo, Greg Rousseau blocked the Rams’ would-be game-winning field goal attempt. Brady went right back to Cook on the next play, and he carried the ball twice for 3 yards on the Bills’ game-winning drive before kicker Tyler Bass sealed the victory with a field goal of his own.
‘It’s Going to Cost Us Football Games’
While Brady praised Cook’s play, he was blunt about what the fumbles are doing to the team as he issued a bit of a warning to his superstar running back about the “consequences” that would follow if he keeps fumbling.
“Look, he’s doing so many good things running the football,” Brady said. “I don’t want to lose sight of how great he is running the ball right now. 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.”
“It’s going to cost us football games. It almost cost us one. We can’t confuse because we won the game that that’s OK. It’s got to improve or the carries are going to decrease,” Brady added.
Brady also admitted that, with hindsight, he probably should have had quarterback Josh Allen kneel twice before the game-winning field goal instead of even considering handing the ball to Cook in that situation.
“James understands when you hold the football, you’re holding the whole entire organization in his hands,” Brady said. “When he’s running the football, there’s nobody else I want when he’s running it. But look, we’ve got to be able to come up with the football. Right now, he’s putting it out there.”
Clearly, Cook’s leash is getting shorter.
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