ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — James Cook has proven his worth to the Bills through the first month of the season.
After an extended contract standoff during the offseason that ended with Cook receiving an extension paying him among the top running backs in the NFL, the fourth-year player has gained 490 yards from scrimmage and scored five touchdowns during Buffalo’s 4-0 start.
As the NFL’s second-leading rusher (401 yards) with the most rushing TDs, Cook was named AFC offensive player of the month for September.
“He’s an all-time teammate, and he’s gotten everything that he’s deserved,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said. “He’s going out there still and acting like he has something to prove, which is awesome to see.”
Cook is the sixth NFL player in 60 years to gain 100 or more scrimmage yards and rush for a touchdown in each of the first four games. The only other Bills player to do that was O.J. Simpson in 1975, when he set team records with 2,243 yards and 23 TDs.
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.