Buffalo Bills running back James Cook is inactive for Monday night’s AFC East divisional showdown against the New York Jets with a toe injury that kept him limited most of the week.
Cook is the team’s leading rusher with 309 yards and 4 touchdowns to go with 11 receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown in the receiving game as a trusted target for quarterback Josh Allen. This is the first game that Cook, a third-year player out of Georgia, has missed in the NFL.
With Cook out, the Bills will likely lean on the combination of Ty Johnson and rookie Ray Davis. On 36 carries, the two have combined for 117 yards and two touchdowns this season. Davis was a fourth-round pick out of the University of Kentucky in the 2024 NFL Draft, while Johnson was picked up from the Jets last year.
Frank Gore Jr., who was an undrafted free agent out of Southern Mississippi, was elevated to the active roster for the game and this marks his NFL debut. He is the son of Frank Gore, the third all-time leading rusher in NFL history with 16,000 yards. Interestingly enough, Frank Gore played his final two seasons with the Bills and Jets, respectively.
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir is active for the Bills after missing last week’s game against the Houston Texans with an ankle injury. Shakir is the team’s leading receiver with 18 receptions and 230 yards, while tied for the team lead with 2 receiving touchdowns.
The winner of Monday’s game between the Bills and Jets will lead the AFC East.
(Photo: Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
