Bills coach Sean McDermott was able to convince running back James Cook to suit up and take a couple of handoffs in pregame warmups.

The Buffalo Bills running back hadn’t worn any of his gear for a week. He wants a new contract and has applied his leverage by refusing to practice. To see Cook on the field Saturday — he even took a first-team rep in 11-on-11 warmup drills — was a jolt of hope.

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.