ORCHARD PARK — James Cook made a business decision when he stopped practicing. But Cook returned to practice Tuesday with his business unfinished.
The Buffalo Bills running back was a full participant in practice for the first time in over a week. Cook missed four practices for what he called “business,” and coach Sean McDermott revealed that Cook was asked to play in Saturday’s preseason opener but declined.
Cook declined to comment and the Bills public relations team told reporters “not today” when approached after practice. McDermott also declined to get into the specifics of his conversations with the two-time Pro Bowler.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to get into the weeds on it,” McDermott said before practice. “The most important thing is that he’s expected to practice and I’m rather confident that that’s going to happen.”
McDermott’s confidence proved correct and Cook was on the field, taking a handoff on the first 11-on-11 play of a practice that lasted more than two hours. The Bills coach said Thursday he expects all his players to practice if they are healthy enough to do so.
McDermott also said, “I wanted him to play,” following the 34-25 loss to the Giants. Cook did agree to dress and go through normal pregame warm-ups with the team Saturday.
Whether Cook resumes his hold-in before the start of the season remains to be seen. It’s becoming a mercurial process throughout the league. Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin bypassed mandatory minicamp and made his decision to hold in from the start of training camp.
But like Cook, Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons began camp by practicing until contract talks broke down and he began a hold-in. Parsons publicly requested a trade Aug. 1 and Cook began his hold-in two days later, eight practices into training camp.
Steelers seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Cameron Heyward began a hold-in later into camp than Cook. And after missing his second consecutive practice Monday, Heyward didn’t rule out missing regular-season games until he gets a new contract.
“It’s hard for me, after the year that I had, to really justify playing at the number I’m playing at,” Heyward told reporters Monday.
The purpose of a hold-in is to skirt fines for missing training camp practices under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement by being in attendance. Cook stated during mandatory minicamp that he wasn’t willing to cough up the $100,000 fine for not practicing, and again said he didn’t want the $40,000-per-practice fine during training camp.
“It’s too early to go there,” McDermott said. “I’m just focused on what’s right in front of us, which is practice, which would be a step for us here.”
Although Cook hasn’t been a high-volume ball carrier during his career with the Bills or Georgia, he has posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. Ray Davis and Ty Johnson return after the three rotated a year ago, but the Bills don’t have another proven runner who can take Cook’s carries or possesses his ability to be a home run hitter.
Cook’s four 40-yard runs last season trailed only Saquon Barkley (7) and Derrick Henry (5) last season. And during the offseason, Cook hinted that he wanted $15 million per season, which would put him in the same realm as those players.
“Getting those reps and making sure that he’s getting ready for game one,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “… We had no doubts that he wouldn’t be ready to be out there with the guys and sweating and battling in practice. I think it’s good for the team.”
Practice notes
In addition to Cook, the Bills got their starting safeties back for practice. Safeties Cole Bishop (quad) and Taylor Rapp (knee) returned to practice on a limited basis, alongside rookie receiver Kaden Prather (knee).
Prather missed eight practices, while Bishop sat for six and Rapp missed two. Receiver Curtis Samuel also wore a helmet and shoulder pads as he performed workouts with the training staff, missing the last nine practices with a hamstring injury.
Bishop and Samuel were among those who dressed during the preseason opener, but did not play. McDermott reiterated his desire for players to return to practice because they are running low on time before the season starts.
Bishop also missed most of training camp last season with a shoulder injury. Veteran safety Darrick Forrest did not participate in team drills Tuesday and the team signed safety Tre Herndon, who spent six years with the Jaguars and bounced between the Giants, Saints and Colts the last two years.
“As a young player, you’re missing a ton of fill-in-the-blank reps, experience, technique work, fundamentals — all those things,” McDermott said. “So there’s going to be a lot of work to get done here as (Bishop) continues to get going from a ramp-up standpoint.”
McDermott also addressed first-round pick Maxwell Hairston, who was seen without crutches before and after Saturday’s game. The cornerback suffered an LCL sprain during practice and has missed the last seven.
The Bills have not provided a timeline for Hairston’s injury. But with the season opener less than a month away, the Bills may have to consider placing the rookie on injured reserve, which would knock him out for at least the first four games.
“We have not had those specific conversations,” McDermott said. “Due to the timeline, there may be a conversation that needs to be had at some point. But right now, we have not visited that.”
Left tackle Dion Dawkins left practice early with trainers and did not return. The Bills also released tight end Matt Sokol.