Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills opened training camp on Wednesday at St. John Fisher University, as the team begins preparations for the 2025 season of football.
Despite being unhappy because he hasn’t gotten a contract extension this offseason, running back James Cook is in attendance for training camp and participated in practice.
Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane says there really hasn’t been any movement with a new contract for the fourth-year running back.
"I love James Cook. I want to draft, develop and re-sign our own, but it’s a business. We have to fit it in," said Beane on Wednesday while addressing the assembled media. "Maybe we could fit it in, but we also have to look at ’26, ’27 and beyond. We might walk into where we would have to trade or cut someone that we wouldn’t want to lose. So it’s not just 2025. All those things have to make sense for us to fit it in, and I’m going to have an open dialog with the players and let the business take care of itself."
Beane says trying to make all the players happy is the toughest part of his job.
"I do want to pay them all, especially the ones that are working hard and producing on the field, and James fits Buffalo. But sometimes you can’t get on the same page, and there are times where guys have left here that we really wanted, but just couldn’t make it work," Beane acknowledged. "But I can tell you I’m hopeful when we’re sitting here at next year’s training camp, that James Cook is out there practicing and still representing the red, white and blue.
"The business part stings. I did not want to part ways with Tre White for any reason last year, but business got in the way and we had to get our cap in order and make a lot of tough moves, including Tre."
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Bills tight end Dawson Knox was placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list before training camp, while Spencer Brown and Sedrick Van Pran Granger are on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
According to Beane, the injury to Knox just happened.
"Dawson was training the other day and tweaked it," he said. "He knows his body, and he’ll do everything. He knows this offense and this team, and he and Josh have a great rapport together. So until he’s back out there, you always have some concern. But I feel the medical team and him have a good idea of what it’s going to take, and hopefully get him back out there sooner rather than later.
Much of the same was said about Brown's injury situation.
"The back flared up a little bit on him, and we want to be cautious because it’s always different now instead of in season," Beane said. "You get him in season and you’re thinking, 'I think I can get him out there,' so we have to realize it’s July 23. Let's [not] rush something."
This year's training camp will be a bit different, as NFL Films crews will be following the team around this summer for HBO's "Hard Knocks". It's the first time the Bills will be featured on the show, but Beane didn’t sound too worried about it.
"We want to be authentic, we’ve got nothing to hide, and we want to make this a very positive experience," Beane said.
"Will there be an intrusive thing here or there? Of course, but it’s all in the preseason. I don’t expect any issues, and we’ll all work together and make sure it’s a good product for our fans."
As for White, he is back with the Bills after being cut following the 2023 season. He spent parts of his 2024 campaign with the Los Angeles Rams before being released and then picked up by the Baltimore Ravens.
Beane was happy to see the team’s 2017 first-round pick back out there for the Bills.
"Tre made a play, I think it was on Elijah Moore, and he was standing near me and I said, 'I see you 2-7', and he was like, 'Man, it’s good to be home! I’m around family.' It resonates with you," Beane recalled.
There were areas where Beane and head coach Sean McDermott wanted third-year player Dalton Kincaid to get better in this upcoming season. The tight end took it to heart, and spent much of the offseason working out in Orchard Park.
Beane is certainly glad to see the dedication Kincaid put in.
"Dalton had a really strong finish to his rookie year, and then last year was sailing along and then has the injury, plays through it, doesn’t want to complain about it, and maybe people question what’s his talent level and they don’t understand the toughness that he fought through," Beane noted.
"The ball that landed on the turf in Kansas City, that eats at him. He’s a competitor, and he wants that opportunity again, and he’s going to get his opportunities. We need Dalton Kincaid, and it was exciting to see his work ethic this offseason. Even when we broke for the summer, he, for the most part, stuck around."
The Bills will be back on the practice field at St. John Fisher at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday.