Joe Brady Warns James Cook of Consequences for Continued Fumbling

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is tied with New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo for the most fumbles by any running back this season, with four, including two in Monday’s 37-34 overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams. Head coach Joe Brady warned on Tuesday that the team faces potential consequences—including reduced playing time—if the ball security issues persist.

Joe Brady’s Warning on Ball Security

Despite the team’s 4-1 record and a hard-fought victory at SoFi Stadium, the Bills’ coaching staff remains focused on a recurring problem. James Cook, who has been a central figure in the Buffalo offense, recorded two fumbles against the Rams, one of which occurred in overtime and nearly shifted momentum in favor of Los Angeles. As Buffalo advanced to the Rams’ 22-yard line, Los Angeles linebacker Nate Landman forced a fumble by stripping the ball from Cook, which the Rams then recovered. While the Bills eventually secured the win thanks to edge defender Greg Rousseau blocking Harrison Mevis’ field-goal attempt, head coach Joe Brady made it clear that the recent performance is unsustainable.

“Look, he’s doing so many good things running the football. 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.”

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills head coach

Brady noted that the team cannot afford to overlook the errors simply because they won the game. 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 told reporters from the team’s hotel outside Los Angeles. Addressing the issue on Tuesday, Brady emphasized that he needs to have internal conversations with his staff regarding why these incidents continue to happen, asserting that such mistakes simply “can’t happen.”

Cook Ties League Lead for Most Fumbles

Through the first five games of 2026, he has logged four fumbles, a mark that ties him with New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo for the most by any player at the position this season. This recent downward trend is particularly jarring; in his first three seasons, including playoffs, Cook totaled 750 touches and fumbled only six times, or once every 125 touches.

Despite these lapses, Cook remains a Pro Bowl-caliber asset who has already secured three Pro Bowl nods and a Second-Team All-Pro selection in his young career. He rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams on Monday, maintaining an average of 5.6 yards per carry through his first five games.

Limited Options Exist If Cook Loses RB1 Status

If Brady decides to follow through on his warning, the Bills have limited options currently on the active roster. Ty Johnson and Ray Davis are the primary alternatives in the running back room. To date, both have seen limited action in the backfield, with a combined total of five carries for 8 yards this season. Their contributions have largely been focused on the passing scheme, where they have recorded 12 catches for 166 yards. While it is considered unlikely that the team would waive Cook after just four fumbles, his status as the unquestioned RB1 could be tested if his ball security does not improve in the weeks to come.

Following the two-minute warning, the Bills faced a second-and-10 situation at the L.A. 27-yard line. Brady could have handed the ball to Cook to drain the clock and prevent the Rams from getting the ball back, but he opted not to, citing the chaotic ending of the Giants-Commanders game on Sunday as a factor in his decision-making. In hindsight, Brady stated he probably should have let quarterback Josh Allen take knees to drain the clock instead of even considering Cook as an option in those moments. As the team prepares for their upcoming game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the focus remains on whether Cook can stabilize his ball security. For now, the organization maintains its confidence in his talent, but as Brady noted, when Cook holds the football, he is holding the entire organization in his hands.

More on this story: Actress Selma Blair arrested after allegedly biting flight attendant, being restrained on flight from LAX to JFK · President Donald Trump suggested during a Nebraska campaign rally that potential strikes on Los · Eva Marie Saint, Oscar-Winning Actress, Dies at 102