The Buffalo Bills paid James Cook a lot of money before this season started.
And in almost every facet, he's proved to be a player worthy of that payday.
Except in the last few weeks, something weird has happened. Cook has forgotten how to hold onto the football.
He entered Week 13 having fumbled just twice all season. But then he fumbled twice against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and twice more against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Four fumbles in two weeks, and six for the season, is far from ideal.
One of Cook's fumbles against the Bengals was both understandable and also brutal. He was trying to get the extra reach to cross the goal line, and instead the ball was knocked out and Cincinnati recovered.
The Bills won't be going away from Cook anytime soon. Sure, they already mix in Ty Johnson and Ray Davis at times, but this is still Cook's backfield.
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They've also got Josh Allen happy to take matters into his own hands, including on a 40-yard TD run on Sunday in the Buffalo snow.
But as the stretch run arrives, and the Bills push into the playoffs and try to survive and advance, Cook needs to hold the ball.
Right now, it's more of a concern. It's just two games. Cook can address the issue.
If it continues in win-or-go-home games, the Bills will have a problem.
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