The Buffalo Bills are in the Windy City to take on the Chicago Bears in Week 2 of the NFL’s preseason, and leading up to the game, the two teams participated in a joint practice session from Chicago.

Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by offering up observations and analysis from a physical joint practice session between the Bills and Da Bears, including how Buffalo’s pass rush was able to consistently apply pressure on Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.

Recapping Bills/Bears joint practice

Josh Allen and the Bills’ offense initially struggled against the Bears, but the reigning NFL MVP...

Much has been made this offseason about Buffalo Bills running back James Cook and his future with the team. He spent more than a few moments early in the spring letting social media know that it was time for a new contract. But when it came time to show up, Cook was there — for mandatory minicamp and even training camp. That likely meant his eventual “hold-in” during the final week of camp at St. John Fisher University didn’t come easy, with what appears to have been a very preoccupied mindset.

For any professional athlete preparing to land a new...

The Buffalo Bills are in the Windy, but warm, City today in preparation for their preseason game against the Chicago Bears this weekend. With Bills beat reporter Sal Capaccio in attendance at the open practice, there’s a wealth of live-tweeting to enjoy even if we can’t see what’s happening.

Though it may feel a bit like listening to “War of the Worlds,” what, without much in the way of immediate visuals (or even audio), there’s plenty of news to catch up on from today’s football in the Midwest. Here below is a timeline of events as seen mostly through Capaccio’s...

The Buffalo Bills have amassed enviable offensive line depth over the last few years. Whether it’s through the NFL Draft, where they select toolsy players with upside, or through scouring the market for experienced veterans with some positional versatility, the Bills always seem to have a glut of depth up front.

That’s not by accident, as general manager Brandon Beane sees the value in strength in the trenches. The Bills have a clear starting five on the offensive line, but they arguably have four players in their reserve ranks who could start for many other teams, including this one if...

We’ve settled on a single play from each game to represent or “illustrate” that part of the Buffalo Bills’ 2024 season. Now it’s time to pit those plays against each other in a ruthless contest to decide what play stands above them all to be crowned the Play That Defines the 2024 Season.

Which moment will join the hall of awesome started with Josh Allen Jumping Over Things?

Runoff Game 1

Josh Allen’s TD vs. Chiefs (One Seed)

vs.

Fourth-down stop vs. Titans (Eight Seed)

I think from an ethics stance I should likely stay impartial...

The Buffalo Bills have locked in their star running back for the long term, coming to terms on a four-year, $46 million contract extension with James Cook. The deal includes $28.82 million guaranteed (per Spotrac), with a $9 million signing bonus, and a $7.4 million bonus being optioned in 2026, and an average annual salary of $11.5 million.

The initial numbers always seem nerve-racking, even when the money isn’t coming out of our pockets, but the team can easily get out of the deal in 2028. If the Bills want out, they would have paid $22,035,000 of Cook’s contract and...

Ultimately, Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane knew had but one choice: Get to the finish line on a new contract with running back James Cook. Beane understood the importance of moving forward with Cook because, as he stated, “he’s got a skill set that we wanted to maintain and keep with this offense.”As a former draft pick of the Bills, Cook has shown immense growth since entering the league in 2022.

To that end, Cook decided it was time to advocate for himself publicly, intent on landing a new contract (extension with Buffalo or otherwise) ahead of the 2025...

The Buffalo Bills continue manipulating their 90-man roster, adding free-agent defensive end Nelson Ceaser on Thursday afternoon. Ceaser joins a crowded defensive end group in Buffalo, where his best opportunity may be found in aiming for the team’s practice squad.

Ceaser attended the University of Houston (2019-2023), and was named First-Team All-Big 12 following a 2023 season where he made 43 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, and one pass deflection. After going undrafted, Nelson signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL), where he played during the spring of 2024.

Nelson’s NFL career began in...

Ending what had been the biggest story line to date from Buffalo Bills training camp, on Wednesday, the Bills and Pro Bowl running back James Cook came to terms on a four-year, $48 million contract extension with $30 million guaranteed.

Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane has been busy extending his core of young, talented players this offseason, with Cook becoming the sixth player to sign an extension to remain in Western New York.

Today’s edition of Buffalo Rumblinks leads off by examining the contract extension and discussing how the two sides were able to hammer out a deal.

What we...

The Buffalo Bills, like most NFL teams, have experienced a great deal of roster turnover in the last few years. Unlike most NFL clubs, however, the Bills have had stability at the head coaching position. Sean McDermott has held that post since the 2017 NFL season began. With new regimes come new rosters, and McDermott has teamed with general manager to reshape the Buffalo roster in their tenure.

Every player who was with the Bills in 2016 is no longer with the club… with the exception of one. That’s not necessarily a surprise, as most teams don’t currently roster a...

During practice on Tuesday, August 12, Buffalo Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins was seen leaving the field early with athletic trainers alongside him. Though no update was given, ESPN Bills reporter Alaina Getzenberg reported that Dawkins “smirked and then danced away” when asked if he was “doing OK.”

That was good news for all of Bills Mafia and the team, since the big man’s the blindside protector for current NFL MVP quarterback Josh Allen. Of course, with Dawkins, you never know what to expect, and a lot can change in 24 hours.

Indeed, and change things did. Late on Wednesday...

There was plenty of good news regarding the Buffalo Bills Tuesday, August 13. The early morning news about running back James Cook’s four-year contract extension has rightfully dominated headlines. Yet Bills reporter Sal Capaccio shared the welcome news that a key pair of defensive backs were back on the field and fully participating Tuesday morning.

Quite simply, Buffalo getting back perceived starting safeties in Cole Bishop and Taylor Rapp is huge news. Head coach Sean McDermott had explained Monday that it was less than ideal to see Bishop miss so much time, and how his absence and now Rapp’s recent...