James Cook may be the NFL’s rushing champion without needing to do much in Week 18.
The Buffalo Bills running back entered the final week of the regular season with 1,606 rushing yards, 47 ahead of Indianapolis Colts’ running back Jonathan Taylor.
Taylor was held to 26 yards on 14 carries in the Colts’ 38-30 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday prior to the Bills kickoff against the New York Jets. That left Taylor with 1,585 for the season.
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said earlier in the week that he was aware Cook was in the running for the rushing title and wanted Cook to win it while also assessing how much to play his starters.
The Bills face a Jets defense on Sunday that is 27th in the league in rushing defense. Cook rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns in their first matchup this season.
Buffalo has secured a wild-card playoff spot and couldn’t ascend any higher than the No. 6 seed in the AFC after the Texans’ victory over the Colts.
Is James Cook playing today?
Cook played briefly against the Jets.
He received handoffs on Buffalo’s first two plays from scrimmage, running for 10 yards and 5 yards. Then Cook exited the game after two carries for 15 yards was replaced by Ray Davis.
That gives Cook 1,621 yards rushing in 2025. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry has 1,469 rushing yards entering Baltimore’s finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football. Cook is 152 yards ahead of Henry.
Cook had a veteran rest day on Thursday and was a full participant at practice on Friday. He wasn’t listed on the final injury report.
“We want to win the game, that’s number one,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said when asked if he’ll rest some of his best players. “It’ll go from there in terms of how we’re going to go about approaching this week here overall.”
Cook has been remarkably healthy throughout his four-year career. He’s only missed one game, on Oct. 14, 2024 due to a toe injury.
Bills running back depth chart
- James Cook
- Ray Davis
- Ty Johnson
- Frank Gore Jr. (practice squad)
