Brandon Beane: Bills Still Discussing Extension With RB James Cook
James Cook took part in mandatory minicamp in June and participated in the opening practices of training camp. The extension-seeking running back elected not to take part in Sunday’s practice, however. 
That shift to a hold-in drew questions about whether or not it would continue. Indeed, ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg notes Cook is present for Monday’s practice but not in uniform. The Bills declined to offer a comment on the situation yesterday, but general manager Brandon Beane has since spoken publicly about Cook.
“I wish we weren’t here,” Beane said during an appearance on WGR550 Monday morning (via Katherine Fitzgerald of the Buffalo News) when speaking about Cook’s decision to hold in. “This is my ninth season here, we’ve never had a player miss due to a contract or anything like that, so that’s disappointing for me.”
Beane added he and the team became aware of Cook’s shift in participation shortly before Sunday’s practice. It remains to be seen if electing not to take part will bring about traction on the negotiating front. Team and player have discussed a deal throughout the offseason, one in which a quartet of other key Bills players (Khalil Shakir, Gregory Rousseau, Christian Benford, and Terrel Bernard) have each received second contracts. Beane noted communication is still ongoing between the Bills and Cook’s camp as the team looks to prevent a potential free agent departure next spring and the two-time Pro Bowler aims to become one of the league’s highest-paid running backs.
$15MM publicly emerged as Cook’s asking price earlier this offseason. Only three players at the position – Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Derrick Henry – are attached to a deal with that high of an AAV. That trio has combined to collect four first-team All-Pro nods and their respective track records outpace what Cook has achieved so far. At the age of 26, though, the Georgia product can be expected to remain one of the NFL’s top backfield producers throughout the length of any new deal he signs.
“We’ll see if we can get something done,” Beane said while confirming it remains the Bills’ objective to keep Cook in the fold past the coming campaign. “If not, he knows that we would try again after the season. So, just if we don’t get something done now, doesn’t mean that we can’t get it before he’s a free agent.”
Time still remains for a deal to be struck, but in the absence of an extension Cook’s willingness to suit up without a new pact – along with his performances, of course – would become a major Bills storyline for 2025. As the team prepares for its latest bid to reach the Super Bowl, this situation remains one worth monitoring.
NFLPA Names David White Interim Executive Director
Uncertainty has loomed over the immediate and long-term future of the NFLPA following the abrupt changes made in recent weeks. Following the resignations of both Lloyd Howell and J.C. Tretter, the search process began for an interim executive director.
That effort has now resulted in a hire. David White has been named the union’s new leader on an interim basis, per an NFLPA announcement. White is a former SAG-AFTRA executive director who is currently the CEO of 3CG Ventures, a coaching and strategic firm. In 2023, when Howell was elected, White was the only other finalist for the position (and was supported 10-1 by the NFLPA’s executive committee in a straw poll). After being the runner-up last time, he will take charge of the union for the time being.
“We have full faith in David to take the union forward and operate in the best interests of our membership,” a statement from NFLPA president Jalen Reeves-Maybin reads. “David has spent much of his career fighting for collectively bargained rights in the labor movement and is committed to putting players first in all the union does. We are confident that he will inspire solidarity and provide the necessary stability during this period of transition.”
The past two weeks saw a number of candidates interviewed for the position. Internal and external options received consideration, ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. and Kalyn Kahler report. NFLPA chief player officer Don Davis as well as former quarterback Charlie Batch were among the finalists for the interim role, per the report. Interestingly, the ESPN duo adds a recent league memo which contained the name of five finalists for the interim executive role did not include White.
Howell appeared to be in position to lead the union through negotiations on the next collective bargaining agreement. This offseason has witnessed a number of scandals, however, and it ultimately came as little surprise when he stepped down last month. Since that decision, attention has turned to an ongoing federal investigation into the actions of OneTeam Partners, the group co-founded by the NFL and MLB Players Associations and which Howell sat on the board of governors for prior to his resignation.
Specifically, the matter of passing a resolution which would allow for OneTeam governors to be paid for their services on the board – separate from their existing compensation – is the subject of scrutiny. The ongoing probe, as Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk details, could reveal details about efforts on the part of Howell and other board members to allow for payment (which does not currently take place). In any case, the past several months have seen Howell’s NFLPA tenure come to an abrupt end and he has also resigned from his consulting position at one of the private equity firms eligible to purchase a stake in an NFL team.
Representatives from all 32 teams took part in Sunday night’s vote to install White as Howell’s temporary replacement, per the ESPN report. The search for a permanent executive director will begin soon, according to Reeves-Maybin, and that process will also include representation from each team when a final vote takes place.
Bills RB James Cook Holding In?
5:00pm: NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero notes (video link) Cook’s camp and the Bills have remained in consistent contact regarding extension talks, adding that the parties are not believed to be far apart. That makes today’s move somewhat surprising, and it remains to be seen whether the nature of negotiations will shift in the near future and whether missed regular season action becomes a real possibility.
12:43pm: Bills running back James Cook is entering the final year of his rookie contract and is seeking a lucrative extension. However, he fully participated in Buffalo’s first training camp practice, and reports at the time indicated he would continue to do so and would not ‘hold in.’ 
That appears to have changed. Cook did not practice on Sunday, and when asked why, he simply replied, “business” (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). When asked if he would practice Monday, he answered, “business.” Per Getzenberg, he kept repeating the word “business” in response to follow-up questions. The team, meanwhile, indicated it has no comment on the matter, per Getzenberg.
Prior reports suggested the Bills and Cook were still discussing a new deal, although we had also heard there was little traction in negotiations since Cook’s asking price of $15MM per year became public. That AAV would place Cook in a third-place tie with Derrick Henry in the league’s running back hierarchy, and while Cook (26 in September) is over five years younger than Henry with considerably less mileage on his odometer, he does not have nearly the same track record as a game-changing talent.
Still, since taking over as the Bills’ RB1 in 2023, Cook has earned two Pro Bowl nods and has averaged an impressive 4.8 yards per carry across 444 totes. He has also demonstrated a nose for the end zone, recording a league-high 16 rushing touchdowns last season as part of a Buffalo offense that finished 10th in yards and second in scoring. He is therefore justified in making a big ask, and it is unclear whether his apparent new stance reflects some sort of regression in contract talks.
The Bills have busy on the extension front this offseason. The likes of Khalil Shakir, Gregory Rousseau, Christian Benford, and Terrel Bernard have each received lucrative second contracts keeping them in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. General manager Brandon Beane has previously suggested Cook would need to replicate his previous production from the 2024 campaign before the team makes a similar commitment to him, however. Today’s development is another sign that could be the case.
In addition to Cook, Buffalo has veteran Ty Johnson and 2024 fourth-rounder Ray Davis set to return in the backfield. The presence of those two as depth options could once again prevent Cook from handling a true three-down role this season, something which would in turn hinder his market value on a second Bills pact or one sending him to a new team.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Falcons Owner Arthur Blank Endorses GM Terry Fontenot, HC Raheem Morris
In early April, a few weeks prior to this year’s draft, Falcons owner Arthur Blank addressed the status of general manager Terry Fontenot. At the time, Blank did not offer a public vote of confidence, though he did stop short of describing the 2025 season as a make-or-break year for the front office boss.
After his club’s second training camp practice last week, Blank expressly endorsed both Fontenot and head coach Raheem Morris, who is entering his second season as Atlanta’s full-time HC.
“I definitely think we have the right people,” Blank said (via ESPN’s Marc Raimondi). “I think they continue to demonstrate that, I think, during this offseason, and how they built during free agency and particularly decisions … in the draft. And I think continuing to reflect on the coaching staff, making some changes on the coaching staff. And if the emperor has no clothes, you’ve got to say the emperor has no clothes. And I think our leadership team has done that, and I think that’ll make us better.”
Blank said in April that the Falcons needed to focus on the defensive side of the ball in the draft, and his most recent comments suggest he is pleased with Fontenot’s decision to select edge rusher Jalon Walker with the No. 15 overall pick and then aggressively trade back into the first round to land another EDGE, James Pearce Jr. Atlanta’s attempts to bolster its pass rush in recent years have not yielded consistent results, and Blank appreciates the concerted effort to address the team’s biggest weakness (which also included adding Leonard Floyd and Morgan Fox in free agency).
The 82-year-old owner also seems to respect the difficult decision Morris had to make in cutting ties with former defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake and replacing him with Jeff Ulbrich.
“My feeling … is that we’re in a better place now, teamwise, coachingwise, totally across the board than we’ve been in a number of years,” Blank said. “And so, I look forward to the season and a different set of results at the end of the season.”
Blank has long touted the importance of front office and coaching continuity, so it is not surprising that, despite having failed to deliver a postseason berth since assuming the GM post in 2021, Fontenot is still in the fold. But in second-year passer Michael Penix Jr., the team finally has the player it realistically hopes will be the long-term successor to Matt Ryan. If Penix should struggle, and if the Falcons miss the playoff bracket again, it would be fair to wonder about the job security of Fontenot and Morris, regardless of Blank’s feelings on continuity.
For now, however, Blank is striking an optimistic tone while openly backing his top power brokers.
49ers Sign WR Robbie Chosen Following Workout
After hosting him for a workout yesterday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the 49ers have opted to add veteran free agent receiver Robbie Chosen to their roster for training camp. To make room for Chosen on the roster, another wide receiver, Marquez Callaway, was released. 
Chosen — who originally entered the NFL as Robby Anderson, then Robbie Anderson, and then was briefly known as Chosen Anderson — has had a rollercoaster of a career in football. After changing positions from cornerback to wide receiver at Temple and overcoming academic eligibility issues, Chosen went undrafted in 2016, signing initially with the Jets. Immediately, the undrafted rookie became an impact WR3 on the offense before leading the Jets in receiving for the next two seasons, despite having a different quarterback throwing to him all three years.
After playing the 2019 season on a second-round tender, Chosen signed a two-year, $20MM deal with the Panthers. In the first year of the deal, he put up his first 1,000-yard season, earning a two-year, $29.5MM extension on top of his original deal. But, when reunited with Sam Darnold in the second year, his receiving yards were limited to 519 yards. Chosen opened his third year in Carolina with a strong 102-yard performance but struggled in the games that followed. After getting into an in-game argument with the team’s wide receiver coach, then-interim head coach Steve Wilks kicked Chosen out of the game.
The next day, Chosen was traded to the Cardinals, and his career has been in decline ever since. In 10 games with Arizona, Chosen caught seven balls for 76 yards and was released in the offseason. He spent the 2023 season in Miami, and though he caught a 68-yard touchdown in his first game appearance, Chosen only caught three more passes in eight games for the rest of the year. Around this time last year, he signed a first time with San Francisco but failed to make the 53-man roster and signed back with Miami’s practice squad, appearing in two games and catching one ball for five yards before being released.
Chosen likely doesn’t stand much of a chance at making the 49ers’ 53-man roster this time around, either. In all likelihood, he’s a camp body that brings a bit more experience and upside than Callaway. The 32-year-old should get plenty of opportunities in the preseason, though, as San Francisco is likely to be careful with its group of pass catchers heading into the regular season, given recent injury histories at the position.
Jaguars OL Dennis Daley Retires
Early this morning, the Jaguars announced that they have placed offensive lineman Dennis Daley on the reserve/retired list. Not much information has followed the announcement, but it appears Daley is hanging up his cleats at only 28 years old. 
Daley came into the league as a sixth-round pick out of South Carolina in 2019. After injuries to the interior offensive line forced the team to move starting left tackle Daryl Williams inside to cover and Greg Little, the rookie second-round tackle called in to replace him, went down, as well, Daley stepped into the starting left tackle role for nine games of his rookie year.
After starting Year 2 injured, Daley made three starts (two at right guard, one at left tackle) in five game appearances before getting placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the year. His third year in Carolina saw him continue to shuffle around, starting nine of 15 game appearances at right guard, left guard, and left tackle.
In 2022, the Panthers traded Daley and a seventh-round pick in 2024 to Tennessee in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round selection. When Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan went down on the first play of the team’s Week 2 matchup with a season-ending knee injury, Daley was inserted and started the remainder of the season as the Titans’ blindside blocker. Though the line helped running back Derrick Henry to finish second in rushing yards that year, Daley tied for the most sacks allowed in the NFL that season, and the line as a whole was considered one of the league’s worst.
In free agency, Daley signed a two-year, $3.2MM contract in Arizona. He ended up on IR just before the start of the regular season and only ended up playing in four contests with one start. The Cardinals released him in training camp last year, and he landed on the Jaguars’ practice squad. Ending the season with no game appearances, Daley signed a reserve/futures deal to spend the offseason with Jacksonville. In the end, he’ll never appear in a game with the Jaguars, now that he’s calling it a career.
In his short time with the NFL, Daley did more than a lot of sixth-round picks get to do. Starting 37 games in 54 appearances at multiple positions across the line, Daley made himself a reliable backup option despite a few major injuries of his own.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/3/25
Here are the minor NFL moves to close out the first weekend of August:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: OL Valentin Senn
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: T Ozzie Hutchinson
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Falcons): T Kilian Zierer
- Waived: FB Troy Hairston, WR Winston Wright
Dallas Cowboys
- Reverted to IR: T Matt Waletzko
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived (with injury settlement): CB David Long Jr.
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Kawaan Baker, TE Albert Okwuegbunam
- Waived: TE Pat Conroy, WR Kyle Philips
New York Jets
- Reverted to IR: S Jaylin Simpson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LS Christian Johnstone
- Waived: CB BJ Mayes
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT Josiah Bronson, G Arlington Hambright
- Waived: WR Ramel Keyton, DE Devonte O’Malley
A couple more players waived with injury designations recently have made their way back to their teams on injured reserve.
In Philadelphia, Johnstone won an audition in which the Eagles worked out four longsnappers. This is Johnstone’s first NFL contract after going undrafted out of Appalachian State this year.
NFC North Notes: Anzalone, Vikings, Johnson
It has become clear this offseason that Alex Anzalone is seeking a new pact. The ninth-year linebacker said at the start of training camp that he is “disappointed” with the state of his financial situation with the Lions.
Talks on an arrangement of some kind continued in the wake of Anzalone’s comments, however. While signs still point to no extension being worked out for the pending 2026 free agent, a contract adjustment covering this season has taken place. Anzalone and the Lions recently worked out a restructure, ESPN’s Field Yates notes.
The 30-year-old will see a $250K bump in his $6MM base salary (which is now guaranteed). Per Yates, the new pact also contains incentives which could increase Anzalone’s earnings for 2025. Adding further details on that point, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press specifies there is $750K in new money available via playtime incentives. Anzalone remains on track for free agency next spring, but his fifth Lions campaign could now see him collect as much as $1MM more than what he was originally owed.
Here are some other notes from around the NFC North:
- Christian Darrisaw resumed practicing in June, but he did so while still awaiting full clearance. The Vikings’ left tackle has been able to participate in training camp on a limited basis, but Emily Leiker of the Minnesota Star Tribune writes no timeline exists for when he will be fully involved. As a result, it remains to be seen if Darrisaw – who tore his ACL and MCL in October – will be available for the start of the season. The 26-year-old is on the books through 2029 thanks to his $76MM extension signed last summer.
- Elsewhere on the injury front, Jaylon Johnson continues to rehab the leg ailment which he encountered before the start of training camp. A multi-week absence was known to be in store, but it is still unclear when the two-time Pro Bowler will be available. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said (via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times) Week 1 is the target in this case. The rookie HC said “there’s a scenario” in which the five-year veteran is back for the start of the year, a somewhat concerning update on the situation given its initial outlook. One month remains for Johnson to heal and avoid a stint on the PUP list in September.
- The Vikings managed to retain Aaron Jones on a two-year deal this spring, allowing him to remain in place after a career-high in rushing yards last season. 2024 also saw the 30-year-old handle the heaviest workload of his NFL tenure with 255 carries, however. Minnesota targeted a more balanced approach in the backfield, something which resulted in the trade acquisition of Jordan Mason. The snap share between Jones and Mason is yet to be determined, but ESPN’s Kevin Seifert notes something closer to a 50-50 split is likelier in 2025 than past years under Kevin O’Connell. Mason’s 153 carries last year marked a major uptick in usage with the 49ers last season, and he figures to play a key role on offense with his new team.
- The Lions recently announced a number of staffing changes (h/t Seifert’s colleague Eric Woodyard). Dan Corzine‘s new title is director of scouting operations (in addition to assistant to the general manager). Meanwhile, Michael Pelfrey is now Detroit’s manager of scouting advancement. Austin White and Bri Howard are in place as personnel assistants while Brandon Clark is in the fold as a scouting assistant.
Panthers Sign LB Krys Barnes
Krys Barnes has found his latest NFL opportunity. The veteran linebacker signed with the Panthers on Sunday, per a team announcement. 
Barnes operated as a starter during his first two seasons with the Packers, reaching 80 tackles on both occasions. His was limited to only six games and a reduced role in 2022, however, and the former undrafted free agent moved on after the campaign. Barnes had been with the Cardinals for the past two years.
In Arizona, the 27-year-old saw time on defense but his largest workload came about through special teams. Barnes totaled 513 third phase snaps, and it would come as no surprise if he were to find himself in a similar situation in Carolina. The UCLA product will spend the remainder of training camp, along with the preseason, attempting to carve out a roster spot for himself.
The Panthers elected not to retain Shaq Thompson this offseason, ending his 10-year run with the organization. More recently, Carolina released fellow linebacker Josey Jewell as he continues to recover from a concussion. The loss of those two will leave the Panthers short on experience, although free agent addition Christian Rozeboom is in line to take on a starting role. Barnes will likely be counted on as a core special teamer, but with 30 starts to his name he could step into a defensive role if needed.
In a corresponding move, the Panthers waived linebacker Tuasivi Nomura. The Fresno State product was among the team’s UDFA class, but he is now set to depart after spending the spring and part of training camp in Carolina. Presuming no team puts in a claim, Nomura will become a free agent.
Steelers Have Not Discussed Extension With WR Calvin Austin
D.K. Metcalf will take on George Pickens‘ role as the Steelers’ No. 1 receiver in 2025 and beyond. As the regular season approaches, Pittsburgh still faces questions about the secondary WR spots. 
As things stand, Calvin Austin and Roman Wilson are positioned to handle larger workloads than they have so far in their brief NFL careers. Austin in particular will be worth watching given his status as a pending 2026 free agent. Time remains for an extension to be worked out for the 26-year-old, but one does not appear likely.
The Steelers have not yet approached Austin about a new contract, Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show notes. He adds it is unclear if that will change over the coming weeks. While general manager Omar Khan has operated in a noticeably different way than his predecessor in certain capacities, he has maintained the organizational policy he inherited which prohibits in-season contract negotiations. As a result, Austin will play out the season in anticipation of a trip to the open market (pending a re-signing early in the spring, of course) unless a pact is signed soon.
The former fourth-rounder missed his entire rookie season due to injury and he occupied only a rotational role in the passing game the following year. Austin flashed potential in 2024, though, once again playing in every game and logging eight starts. He averaged 15.2 yards per reception on the season and reached or surpassed the 65-yard mark in a game four times. Another step forward – brought about, the team hopes, by improved quarterback play – would position Austin for a payday on his second contract.
The Memphis product has spent the offseason as Pittsburgh’s leading candidate for the WR2 role, although another addition at the position cannot be ruled out. The Steelers hosted Gabe Davis for a workout in June, but the absence of an immediate agreement did not eliminate the possibility of a deal being struck at some point. Davis is still unsigned as of now, with the same being true for the likes of Keenan Allen, Amari Cooper and Tyler Boyd, who has expressed interest in joining his hometown team.
The Steelers have over $19MM in cap space at the moment, so a signing would certainly be feasible from a financial standpoint. If they continue to rely on their in-house receiving options, though, Austin could be set up to earn himself a considerable raise with his 2025 performance.