ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Brandin Cooks wasted no time sending a message to his new team. One day after signing with the Buffalo Bills, the veteran wide receiver delivered a clear, confident statement about his role — then backed it up by showing up to the Bills facility
alone on Thanksgiving morning to train.
Cooks, who was waived by the New Orleans Saints last weekend, was added to Buffalo’s active roster on Tuesday. By Wednesday, he was already addressing expectations with a tone that blended humility, hunger, and unmistakable competitive fire.
“First and foremost, jump in here and be the best teammate I could possibly be,” Cooks said. “Be a leader. And at the end of the day, remind people around this league that I’m still a playmaker. That’s my expectation — make plays, help this team, and let everything else take care of itself.”
On Thanksgiving — a league-wide off day for most veterans — Cooks arrived at One Bills Drive alone before sunrise, completing a private workout in the indoor facility. Staff members present for holiday maintenance saw him running routes, conditioning, and studying plays on a tablet. One source described it as “a message without saying a word.”
Brandon Cooks on his expectations with the #Bills:
“At the end of the day, come out here and remind people around this league that I’m still a playmaker.”@MikeCatalana
: “Where’s your speed?”Cooks: “It ain’t left.”#BillsMafia @BuffaloPlus pic.twitter.com/KwLWFXT5o7
— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) November 26, 2025
Now in his 12th NFL season, Cooks also dismissed any doubts about whether he still has elite speed.
“It ain’t left,” he said with a smile. “Hasn’t left. But I’m not gonna talk too much — when my number is called, I’ll show up.”
Cooks signed a two-year deal worth up to $13 million with the Saints in March, but his second stint in New Orleans never gained momentum. He posted just 19 catches for 165 yards in 10 games before his release.
Buffalo, sitting at 7–4 and fighting for AFC playoff positioning, believes Cooks can provide immediate juice to a passing attack searching for reliability and explosive plays. Whether he debuts this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers remains uncertain, but his Thanksgiving work ethic did not go unnoticed.
For a Bills team trying to steady itself after a 23–19 loss to Houston, Cooks’ arrival — and his mindset — may be exactly what the locker room needs.
