Bills Can't Afford to Overwork James Cook, Joe Brady Says

The Buffalo Bills aren't going to get where they want to go without James Cook playing a major role in their offense. But as Joe Brady made clear earlier this week, getting the most out of the team's top running back means thinking beyond the next game.

Brady said they need Cook to be around for 20 games, not just six.

It's an important point for Buffalo as it looks toward the second half of the season. Cook has been a key part of the Bills' offense—he's third in the NFL in rushing with 627 yards on 117 carries—and keeping him available for a potential playoff run is something the team has to consider as the season wears on.

That doesn't mean the Bills are planning to take the ball out of Cook's hands or dramatically cut his workload. Brady didn't announce any changes to how Buffalo intends to use him. His message seemed to be about the bigger picture and the need to have Cook available for as much of the season as possible.

Brady also brought up ball security when discussing the running back. Cook's production is important to Buffalo, but protecting the football is just as critical. Turnovers can change games quickly, and the Bills need to make sure they're not giving opponents extra opportunities.

Buffalo enters the bye at 5-1, giving the coaching staff a chance to look back at the first six games and figure out where the offense can improve. Cook will remain a central part of those plans, but the Bills have to balance his importance now with what they hope will be a long postseason run.

The 20-game comment says plenty about how Brady views the season ahead. The Bills aren't just focused on getting through the regular season. They want to be playing deep into January, and having Cook available could be a major factor in making that happen.

For now, there's no indication Buffalo plans to limit Cook's touches. But Brady's comments make it clear that keeping the running back healthy, productive, and protecting the ball will remain important as the Bills try to turn a strong start into a championship run.

To keep him healthy, though, it may require more trust in the team's other running backs, Ty Johnson and Ray Davis. Through six games, the two backs have a combined seven carries for 18 yards. Johnson does have 12 catches for 155 yards, but Davis has just three for 40.

If they want to make sure Cook is ready for the long haul, Brady has to get those two involved over the final 11 games of the regular season and, hopefully, the playoffs.