Josh Allen now has his full offensive arsenal for the 2025 NFL season. After a brief holdout over his contract, star running back James Cook is back at Buffalo Bills practice – and his quarterback couldn’t be happier.

The stakes are sky-high for the Bills this year. After multiple failed Super Bowl bids, including four painful losses in the 1990s, Buffalo is determined to finally lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Coming off last season’s AFC Championship loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, fans are counting on Allen and Cook to lead the charge back to the Big Game – especially now that Cook appears willing to set aside his dispute with management, at least for the moment.

Allen thrilled to have Cook back

Allen and Cook share a strong bond both on and off the field. So, despite tense negotiations between the running back and the team, the quarterback said their relationship hasn’t wavered.

“It’s been extremely normal between us,” Allen told reporters, adding that he fully respects Cook’s position. “I’m not going to ask him to do anything he doesn’t want to do. I trust him.”

Still, Allen admitted he’s relieved to have his top back in the fold: “[I’m] very happy to have him out there,” he told The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia.

Cook’s contract situation

Cook, drafted 63rd overall in 2022, signed a four-year, $5.8 million rookie deal. He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent next year but has expressed interest in staying with Buffalo long-term.

To put pressure on the front office, Cook skipped the final four days of training camp but still suited up for warm-ups before the Bills’ preseason opener against the New York Giants. Now, with his return to full practice, fans hope both sides can strike a deal – freeing Cook to focus on the ultimate goal: delivering Buffalo its first Super Bowl title.