The Buffalo Bills aim to snap their two-game losing streak as they take on the New York Jets on Monday night. Injuries have plagued the Bills since the season began, and the situation continues to deteriorate, particularly on offense. Running back James Cook and wide receiver Khalil Shakir missed their second consecutive practice on Thursday. With that said, let’s take a closer look at James Cook’s injury report and what it will entail for the future games of the Buffalo Bills.
James Cook Injury
The Buffalo Bills continue to be plagued by injuries, with star player James Cook now added to the team’s injury report. Cook was set to miss practice, along with wide receivers Khalil Shakir, Curtis Samuel, and defensive tackle Ed Oliver. Taron Johnson and Austin Johnson will be limited while Taylor Rapp has cleared concussion protocol and is ready to return.
Head coach Sean McDermott shared that both Cook and Samuel sustained foot and toe injuries during the Bills’ Week 5 loss to the Houston Texans, and both players are considered day-to-day. “We’ll see how it goes,” McDermott said of Cook. “We’ll know a little bit more coming off of today and into tomorrow.”
It would be a significant blow to the Bills’ offense if James Cook is forced to miss time. So far this season, he has accumulated 432 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns, making him one of the team’s most reliable contributors. Cook has been consistently excellent through five games, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and 5.3 yards per touch.
On the other hand, Curtis Samuel has been underutilized, playing in just 35% of Buffalo’s offensive snaps. Still, his foot/toe injury is concerning, especially since he dealt with a turf toe over the summer. Khalil Shakir, who sustained an ankle injury in Week 4 against the Baltimore Ravens, and Ed Oliver, who injured his hamstring during last Thursday’s practice, were both sidelined for Week 5. Their absence from Wednesday’s practice raises additional concerns about their availability.
Taron Johnson sustained a forearm injury in the Bills’ Week 1 victory over the Arizona Cardinals and returned to practice last week, but he wasn’t cleared in time to play in Sunday’s game against the Texans. Austin Johnson, who suffered an oblique injury in Week 4, also missed Week 5. Their limited participation in Wednesday’s practice suggests that both have a chance to suit up for Buffalo’s Week 6 Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Jets.
Taylor Rapp’s clearance from concussion protocol likely means he’ll return to the starting lineup, with rookie Cole Bishop filling in for him during Week 5. While the extensive injury report is worrisome, there’s some relief that the Bills have an extra day to allow their injured players more time to recover before their Monday night game and possibly have their injured players recover, particularly James Cook.
Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets
While Khalil Shakir already missed Week 5 against the Houston Texans, James Cook has yet to sit out a game in 2024. Losing Shakir was already a significant setback, but Cook’s potential absence could be a game-changer for the Bills, especially against the Jets.
Despite their 2-3 record, the Jets have established one of the league’s top defenses this season. Through five games, New York ranks second in both total yards allowed per game and passing yards allowed per game.
As for their run defense, the Jets have given up just over 119 rushing yards per game, which positions them 14th in the NFL. Though they rank slightly lower in run defense than other categories, they’re still in the league’s upper half.
Even so, the Jets allow almost as many rushing yards as passing yards, suggesting that running the ball may be the best way to attack their defense. However, if Cook is unavailable on Monday, the Bills would not only lose one of their most productive players but also their key offensive threat against New York’s defense.
James Cook Thursday Practice
Though Cook did some side work, he was held out of practice for the second consecutive day, putting his status for Monday’s matchup against the Jets in question. He still has two more opportunities to participate in practice. If Cook is unable to play, Ty Johnson and Ray Davis are likely to see increased snaps and touches.
Davis, who only saw three snaps in Sunday’s 23-20 loss to Houston, could potentially take on the lead running back role, as Johnson has primarily been used in passing situations throughout his career.
So why does it matter? Missing practice in the NFL is a complex issue that can have significant implications for player performance, team dynamics, and overall game strategy. Coaches and players alike emphasize the importance of practice to ensure everyone is prepared and cohesive when game day arrives.
For example, a key player from the Kentucky Wildcats missing a single day of practice implies that there’s an important reason why they were absent. For fans, it can imply that the player is injured. This is a common reason for the absence, which can also affect Kentucky Wildcats Odds.
Final Words
James Cook seems likely to be listed as a ‘DNP’ for the second straight day after sustaining foot and toe injuries during Buffalo’s close Week 5 loss to Houston. The starting running back is considered ‘day-to-day’ heading into Monday Night Football against the Jets. However, he only has two more opportunities to practice before receiving an official injury designation for the Week 6 game. If Cook is unable to play, Ty Johnson and Ray Davis are expected to step in and handle backfield duties for the Bills.
Top Photo Credit: Sean Benesh
