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Bills vs Giants: Josh Allen, Buffalo get preseason boost; key contract deal on the cards

Josh Allen sat out of the Buffalo Bills' preseason opener vs the New York Giants on Saturday. However, the Bills got a boost in the James Cook situation

Published on: Aug 9, 2025, 23:41:33 IST
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Josh Allen sat out of the Buffalo Bills' preseason opener vs the New York Giants on Saturday. Sean McDermott and co instead went with Allen's potential backup, Mitchell Trubisky, who put up a decent case for himself in the first quarter. The North Carolina alum started off with sidearm throws, getting through to key targets, even though the Giants' defense wasn't at its best.

Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) takes a handoff from quarterback Josh Allen (17) during practice (AP)
Buffalo Bills running back James Cook (4) takes a handoff from quarterback Josh Allen (17) during practice (AP)

At the time of writing this story, Trubisky had completed three out of his five attempted throws for 19 yards. The Giants led 3-0.

However, it was a pre-game update that the Bills fans were more excited about. The James Cook situation seems to be sorting itself out.

The RB, entering the final year of his rookie deal, has been clear about one thing: he wants a payday. Reports earlier this offseason tied him to a $15 million per year demand, but his actions in recent weeks have sent mixed signals that seem to change by the day.

In an unexpected move Saturday, Cook suited up and warmed up with his teammates before the Bills’ preseason opener vs the Giants. He did not start, with Ray Davis getting the first-team reps instead.

The 25-year-old, coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, was fully involved during the first week of training camp. That changed after the August 1 “Return of the Blue & Red” practice, when Cook shifted to what he called “business” mode, attending meetings and walkthroughs but refusing to practice in full gear.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Thursday he expected Cook to return for the team’s final camp session at St. John Fisher University. He didn’t.

It was weeks ago that Cook skipped voluntary OTAs in the spring but reported on time for June’s mandatory minicamp, even speaking with the media on the first day.

  • Yash Nitish Bajaj
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Yash Nitish Bajaj

    Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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