Alaina Getzenberg
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — James Prepare dinner returned to apply Tuesday amid his contract dispute with the Buffalo Payments, showing to not less than pause the star working again's hold-in.
Prepare dinner was in full uniform and commenced the session absolutely collaborating. He didn't take part within the final 4 days of apply and in addition missed Buffalo's first preseason sport.
Payments coach Sean McDermott mentioned he anticipated Prepare dinner to return to apply earlier Tuesday, including that “issues have modified.”
“We have had conversations with James,” McDermott mentioned. “Good conversations, as I've talked about earlier than, and the data that we're getting is that he's transferring within the course of training right now.
McDermott declined to reply whether or not Prepare dinner's hold-in is formally over.
Prepare dinner, 25, took the sphere in full uniform Saturday and took part in pregame warmups for Buffalo's preseason opener in opposition to the New York Giants however didn't play within the sport.
Prepare dinner had participated within the first eight days of coaching camp apply and the Payments' three days of necessary minicamp. He mentioned after his first apply holding in that he did not apply due to “enterprise,” a change from his beforehand said stance of collaborating via the negotiations.
The Payments have maintained that they wished to pay Prepare dinner all through the offseason, with negotiations starting early within the offseason. However the sides have been unable to come back to an settlement on a brand new cope with the fourth-year working again getting into the ultimate yr of his rookie deal.
“On the finish of the day, I want we weren't right here,” Payments normal supervisor Brandon Beane mentioned on WGR550 final week. “That is my ninth season right here. We have by no means had a participant miss resulting from a contract or something like that, in order that's disappointing for me. It is not one thing we would like.”
The Payments prolonged three different members of the 2022 draft class this offseason — cornerback Christian Benford, linebacker Terrel Bernard and receiver Khalil Shakir — along with defensive finish Greg Rousseau.
Prepare dinner is Buffalo's lead working again, however a part of a bunch. He was on the sphere for simply over 45% of offensive performs final yr, with Ty Johnson typically coming in on late downs and Ray Davis additionally getting some alternatives.
A part of a Payments offense that broke a wide range of data, Prepare dinner tied a workforce file with 16 dashing touchdowns (O.J. Simpson) in 2024 and was fifth in yards earlier than contact per rush (3.1). He took a big step ahead throughout the 2024 season, doubling his whole touchdowns from the earlier two seasons of his profession (9) in a single yr (18).
