The Bills will have to brave 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 apparently suffered the injury on a botched catch in the fourth quarter of a 23-20 loss to the Texans in Week 5, prompting him to miss two practices this week. On Saturday he managed a limited entry and received a questionable award, giving a glimmer of hope that he could pass, but instead he will miss the finals until Week 6.

Cook broke out for Buffalo from the end of last season through 2024 and is currently the team's all-time leader with 432 scrimmage yards and five scrimmage touchdowns.

Considering what's at stake Monday and the crisis Buffalo finds itself in after scoring a total of 30 points in two straight losses after scoring 112 points in a 3-0 start to the season, Cooks Absence of great importance.

Whoever wins between the Bills and Jets Monday Night Football expects to lead the AFC East a third of the way through the season while also gaining a potential advantage for future tiebreakers.

New York's defense is formidable in many ways, but it's a bit forgiving on the ground, where it ranks 14th^Th in yards allowed.

Instead of Cook, a combination of Ty Johnson and rookie Ray Davis will now be tasked with finding space. Davis, who along with quarterback Josh Allen ranks second on the team in carries, has 75 yards and a score of 26 totes. 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 has struggled to post a career-low 30% completion rate against Houston, will have to find a way to get going against the Jets' second-ranked pass defense recover.

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) face off on Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET.