Injuries and underwhelming performance have ravaged the Dallas Cowboys offense in 2024.
Veteran pass catcher Brandin Cooks was one of the first to go down. He hasn’t played since the team’s Week 4 win over the New York Giants.
Here’s the latest on Cooks’ status and the situation in the Cowboys’ wide receiver room.
What Is Brandin Cooks’ Injury?
The Cowboys returned from New York following their game against the Giants in Week 4 with a win. Unfortunately, they returned home without one of their top offensive playmakers.
However, Cooks, who up to that point had nine receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown on 19 targets, stayed behind to undergo a procedure on his knee.
Complicating matters for Cooks and the Cowboys was the development of an infection in the surgically repaired knee prompted Dallas to place Cooks on injured reserve.
Cooks’ placement on injured reserve made him ineligible for at least the next four games. That time has passed, but the veteran pass catcher still hasn’t been placed on the active roster.
When Will Cooks Return From Injury?
Due to the nature of both knee injuries and post-surgical infections, a return timeline for Cooks has been a dicey one to establish.
Cooks has missed the required four games after being placed on injured reserve. He became eligible for return following Dallas’ Week 9 loss to Atlanta. He hasn’t been placed on the active roster nor has his 21-day practice window been opened.
SEE MORE: NFL Injury Report
At the same time, Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has sounded optimistic about Cooks returning soon.
“He’s getting close, the communication from the training room in our meeting,” McCarthy said. “He’s feeling better, I know he’s chomping at the bit to get out there, but he’s one of our team leaders let alone in the wide receiver room, so he’s definitely been missed.”
How Will Cooks’ Absence Impact the Cowboys?
Cooks’ absence has been felt from two standpoints: on-field production and off-field leadership. The Cowboys are mired in a season that’s fallen far short of expectations and the wide receiver room, due to injury and under-performance, has been a microcosm of that.
The return of Cooks’ veteran leadership would be a much-needed boost to a room that, when healthy, has plenty of talent to support the offense.
Dak to Brandin Cooks! First Cowboys TD of the year!
📺: #DALvsCLE on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/VQ2JNW3GE1— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
The star of the show is CeeDee Lamb, who commands the most targets and generates the most production. After that, Cooks’ absence has opened opportunities for youngsters such as Jalen Brooks, Jalen Tolbert, and KaVontae Turpin.
Of the group, Tolbert has seen the most targets with 48. He has 33 receptions and three touchdowns to show for it. Turpin has 28 targets and Brooks 24, with the duo producing 17 and eight receptions, respectively. Turpin has the only touchdown between the two.
Other producers in the pass-catching operation have included tight end Jake Ferguson, who has 42 catches but still no scores on 57 targets, and running back Rico Dowdle, who has 24 grabs and three touchdowns on 29 targets.