The injury bug is tearing through Jerry World.
Through four weeks of the 2024 NFL season, the Cowboys find themselves at 2-2. There have been a handful of ups and plenty of downs for the NFC East club, which has Super Bowl expectations.
Defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence is heading to the IR with a foot injury. Star linebacker Micah Parsons could miss time with an ankle injury. Now, wide receiver Brandin Cooks is in line for an extended absence.
Cooks has nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown so far through four weeks of the 2024 campaign. The 31-year-old is in his second season with Dallas and his 11th total in the NFL.
Here is everything to know about Cooks' injury, including how long he is expected to be out for Dallas.
MORE: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings | Week 5 NFL picks | Week 5 NFL picks against the spread
Brandin Cooks injury update
Cooks is reportedly dealing with an infection in his right knee after a procedure following the Cowboys' 20-15 win Thursday night against the Giants, according to ESPN's Todd Archer.
The Cowboys will be without WR Brandin Cooks for at least this week vs. Pittsburgh and potentially longer after an infection developed in his right knee following a procedure he had after remaining in NY following the win against the Giants, according to multiple sources.
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) October 2, 2024
The veteran did not travel back to Dallas with the team in order to get the surgery done as soon as possible in New York. Now, it appears he may miss extensive time due to the infection.
How long is Brandin Cooks out?
Cooks was initially ruled out of the Week 5 contest between the Steelers and Cowboys on "Sunday Night Football." And on Saturday, the Cowboys placed him on injured reserve, ensuring he will miss at least three more games, ESPN reported.
Dr. Jesse Morse, a sports medicine physician that covers NFL injuries, speculated that Cooks underwent a meniscectomy after the Week 4 game. This operation, which includes trimming the meniscus, was likely done in an attempt to avoid missing any games, according to Morse.
However, Morse believes "some of the bacteria from outside the skin entered the knee joint, causing him to have an infection." It could result in another surgery to "wash out" the knee.
Brandin Cooks was likely dealing with a torn meniscus.
He had a menisectomy (meniscus trimming) after the Week 4 Thursday night game, likely trying to avoid missing any games but unfortunately some of the bacteria from outside the skin entered the knee joint causing him to have… https://t.co/KKUcYlfael
— Jesse Morse, MD (@DrJesseMorse) October 2, 2024
It's not the first time an infection has kept a player from seeing the field. The Buccaneers experienced a number of MRSA infections during the 2013 NFL season, one of which led to a lawsuit from kicker Lawrence Tynes.
WEEK 5 FANTASY RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Cowboys WR depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| No. 1 | CeeDee Lamb |
| No. 2 | Jalen Tolbert |
| No. 3 | Brandin Cooks |
| No. 4 | KaVontae Turpin |
| No. 5 | Jalen Brooks |
| No. 6 | Ryan Flournoy |
No. 1. CeeDee Lamb
Lamb is the bonafide WR1 in Dallas. Not only is he Prescott's top weapon, but he's one of the best at his position in the league. He got paid like so this offseason, and now is leading the Cowboys receiving room. He has 20 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns through four games.
No. 2. Jalen Tolbert
There is no clear-cut No. 2 in the Cowboys wide receiver room, but Tolbert has slowly taken over as the second option behind Lamb. He is up to 13 receptions for 160 yards and a touchdown through four games, ranking third in receptions and tied for third in targets. The third-year player out of South Alabama is on pace for a career year.
No. 3. Brandin Cooks
Cooks and Tolbert were battling for targets from Prescott, but it seemed like, at least in the early going, Tolbert was getting more looks than the veteran. Cooks' 19 targets rank fourth on the team, but he's brought in less than half of them (nine). With his injury, it likely opens the door for KaVontae Turpin.
No. 4, KaVontae Turpin
Turpin, along with Tolbert, should benefit from Cooks' absence if he is out for an extended period of time. The 28-year-old is hoping to carve out a larger role with Dallas in his third season with the team. So far, he has five receptions on eight targets for 55 yards and a touchdown. He's used more as a punt and kick returner than a wide receiver.
No. 5. Jalen Brooks
Brooks, a 2023 seventh-round pick out of South Carolina, has seen limited action so far in 2024. He's been targeted seven times through four games, bringing in three catches for 52 yards. His 17.3 yards-per-catch rank first on the team, but it's an incredibly small sample size.
No. 6. Ryan Flourney
Flourney has yet to see any game time in 2024. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by Dallas. The Cooks injury could open the door for Flourney, but it's unlikely.
