The Bills must face New York without their star running back.

James Cook will be inactive for Monday’s game against the Jets due to a toe injury, NFL Network Insiders Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported.

Cook appeared to suffer the injury after a botched catch in the fourth quarter of a 23-20 Week 5 loss to the Texans, after which he sat out two practices this week. He had a limited appearance on Saturday and was given a questionable title, which gave a glimmer of hope that he could suit up, but instead he will miss the Week 6 finale.

Cook has continued his breakthrough career for Buffalo from the end of last season into 2024 and currently leads the team with 432 scrimmage yards and five scrimmage touchdowns.

Given what’s at stake Monday and the slump Buffalo is in, having scored 30 combined points in two straight losses after putting up 112 points during the 3-0 start to the season, Cook’s absence looms large.

Whoever wins between the Bills and Jets Monday night football assumes AFC East leads for a third of the season, plus a potential lead for future tiebreakers.

New York’s defense is imposing in many ways, but is somewhat permissive on the field, where it ranks 14th.^e in yards allowed.

In place of Cook, a combination of Ty Johnson and rookie Ray Davis will now be tasked with finding open space. Davis, who is tied with quarterback Josh Allen for second on the team in carries, has 75 yards and a score on 26 carries. He could be Buffalo’s grinder, while Johnson has shown a knack for providing receiving yards in the past and has already caught a touchdown pass on one of his four receptions this season.

If the running game struggles without Cook, Allen, who himself is struggling to post a career-low 30% completion percentage versus Houston, must find a way to rebound against the second-ranked passing defense of the Jets.

He and the rest of the Bills will look to get back in the win column when Buffalo (3-2) and New York (2-3) kick off Monday at 8:15 PM ET.