While McDermott made it clear that the team is the focus, and that when a player is focused on themselves, they are, for better or worse, not actively or at least fully a part of the team, given recent events Cook getting back out there in uniform is a good sign and hopefully a step in the right direction.

Bills running back James Cook, who was an active participant in Buffalo’s practices when training camp began, switched to a hold-in strategy last week as extension talks with the team drag on, an approach that continued into the preseason opener.

Tension builds for the Bills as a key player’s ongoing situation sparks questions and speculation within the team’s preseason atmosphere