Bills' WR receives plenty of praise after Week 13 win over Steelers

In the Buffalo Bills’ 26-7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 13 of the 2025 NFL season, the name that lit up the locker room was not a long-time Bills star, but a veteran receiver signed only days before kickoff: wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

With just one catch, Cooks still managed to earn a flood of praise from coaches and teammates and turn his debut into one of the big talking points after the win over the Steelers.

In this article, we break down his debut, why the coaching staff is so excited about him, and how this midseason signing could become a turning point for the Bills offense down the stretch.

Brandin Cooks Records Just One Catch, But Stuns The Bills Sideline

If you only look at the box score from Bills vs Steelers in Week 13, Brandin Cooks is easy to miss:

• Played only 17 offensive snaps

But the story is not about volume. It is about timing and context.

On the Bills’ opening drive, facing a critical third down, Josh Allen chose to throw to the new guy who had only practiced with the team for a few days. Brandin Cooks ran his route, separated, and secured a 13 yard gain, moving the chains and extending the drive.

It was exactly the kind of play that can quietly shape a game:

• If it fails, the first drive stalls early and the offense loses rhythm

Cooks chose the second outcome, and he did it in his very first appearance in a Bills uniform.

Joe Brady Showers Him With Praise: From “Pro” To “Pro’s Pro”

After the win over the Steelers, offensive coordinator Joe Brady could barely hide his excitement when asked about Brandin Cooks.

He did not just call Cooks “a pro through and through”, but went even further and described him as “a pro’s pro” – the kind of player even other professionals look up to.

What impressed Brady the most:

• An incredible work ethic
  Cooks did not behave like a midseason fill in. He arrived early, stayed late, and used every spare minute to sharpen his route running, hands, and timing with Josh Allen.

Coordinators do not waste time raving about players who are just roster filler. The amount of praise Joe Brady sent Cooks’ way is a clear sign that the Bills are very serious about this signing.

Josh Allen Shows Massive Trust In His New Midseason Weapon

Quarterback Josh Allen went into the Steelers game with plenty of familiar weapons and well tested run concepts. Yet on a key third down on the very first drive, he chose to target Brandin Cooks, the receiver who had just arrived in Buffalo.

That decision says a lot:

• Allen believed Cooks had mastered the playbook quickly enough to execute the route at full speed

For a team chasing playoff positioning in the AFC, the QB1 placing that level of trust in a midseason addition is no small detail. It is an early sign that Cooks is not just depth, but a potential key piece in the offensive puzzle.

Sean McDermott On Brandin Cooks: “He Fits What We Want A Buffalo Bill To Be”

It is not just Joe Brady and Josh Allen who are impressed. Head coach Sean McDermott also had strong words of praise for Brandin Cooks after his Bills debut.

McDermott added: "What I love about Brandin is that he fits what we want a Buffalo Bill to be. He is prepared, he is unselfish, and when his number was called, he delivered for his teammates."

That quote tells you everything about how the head coach views Cooks. It is not only about production. It is about character, preparation, and team-first mentality.

In McDermott’s vision of what a Buffalo Bill should be, Brandin Cooks already checks every box.

Why Brandin Cooks Could Become The Bills’ “Secret Weapon”

The Buffalo Bills currently sit at 8-4, right in the thick of the AFC playoff race. But their season has not been entirely smooth:

• Several key receivers have dealt with injuries or less than ideal health (including players like Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman earlier in the year)

That is exactly where Brandin Cooks fits in:

• He is a highly experienced WR who has thrived in multiple offensive systems across the league

What looked like a modest midseason signing could easily turn into a move that elevates the entire Bills offense in the final stretch and into the playoffs.

Bills Fans Are Buzzing: “If This Is After A Few Days, Imagine A Few Weeks”

On social media, Bills fans did not overlook Brandin Cooks’ “small but huge” debut. Many reactions captured the same feeling:

• “If he can make that kind of play after just a few days, imagine what he does after 3 or 4 weeks with Josh.”

For a team that needs players who can prepare on their own, adapt quickly, and do not demand the spotlight, Brandin Cooks feels almost perfectly tailored to the moment.

Conclusion: One Catch, One Message, One Signing That Could Change The Bills’ Season

So far, Brandin Cooks has only:

• Been in Buffalo for a few days

Yet he has already:

• Earned high praise from OC Joe Brady as a “pro’s pro”

In the NFL, not every impactful move comes with big numbers or noisy headlines. Sometimes, it is the quietly professional veteran who shows up, does the work, and makes the right play at the right time who ends up changing the story of a season.

For the Buffalo Bills in Week 13, Brandin Cooks just wrote the first lines of that story. And if his trajectory continues in the same direction, by the time the playoffs arrive, people may look back and say:

“That was one of the smartest moves the Bills made all year.”