With CeeDee Lamb still away from the team due to a contract dispute, the Dallas Cowboys have leaned on veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks to pick up the slack in his absence.
However, Cooks was seen leaving the practice field early into Thursday afternoon’s action due to an injury.
We discuss the latest known information surrounding the injury and how it could affect the Cowboys going forward.
The Latest on Brandin Cooks
Early in Dallas’ practice on Thursday, those around the team began to report that Cooks was seen entering the medical tent to be examined. From there, he was taken into the locker room for further evaluation.
Brandin Cooks went to the medical tent and now the locker room to be evaluated.
No cart or anything like that.
Should know more soon. #Cowboys
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) August 15, 2024
Nick Harris of the Cowboys team site reports that Cooks left practice due to knee soreness, which is “not expected to be a major concern moving forward.”
Onlookers have stated that Cooks went into the medical tent during the Cowboys’ special teams period, a timeframe in which he does not participate. Because he was not actively involved in the ongoing special teams period, it is unclear what caused Cooks’ injury at this time.
With it being described as “not a major concern,” the Cowboys dodged a bad situation. However, like any injury involving an important piece, it’s something worth monitoring going forward as Week 1 draws closer.
Should Fantasy Managers Be Concerned About Cooks?
With fantasy drafts beginning or on the horizon, the question regarding Cooks is how this could impact his fantasy stock.
According to Pro Football Network’s Fantasy Football Analyst Kyle Soppe, the Cowboys’ roster lacks many dependable assets beyond the household names we already know.
“Cooks is entering his 11th season, and while he has largely been a durable asset, this is concerning for a player coming off of the worst season of his career in terms of yards per route run (1.25),” Soppe begins.
“Jalen Tolbert would step into a greater role for this high-powered offense that figures to again rank top-five in pass rate over expectation, but he’s more of fantasy depth than a usable asset. Jake Ferguson would likely absorb some usage as well, and that could make him the best buy at the position given cost.”
“CeeDee Lamb and Ferguson are currently the only Cowboys you can draft with the intent of starting weekly — this injury wouldn’t change that.”
Cowboys’ WR Depth Chart
With Lamb still away from the team dealing with his contract and last year’s WR3 Michael Gallup now retired, the Cowboys have a bunch of young and inexperienced players looking to step up in a big way in 2024.
Seemingly, third-year receiver Jalen Tolbert would be the first person to step up if Cooks were to miss time.
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The former South Alabama star has had a slow start to his career thus far but has been one of the brightest spots in training camp so far this year.
The feeling around the team is Tolbert is primed for a career year. And if something is wrong with Cooks that forces him to miss time, the team may need a Tolbert breakout even more so than originally thought.
Beyond Tolbert, other players such as special teams ace KaVontae Turpin, Jalen Brooks, Jalen Moreno-Cropper, and Tyron Billy-Johnson would slide up a spot in the pecking order.
All of them have had their positive moments in camp, but none with the pedigree of the man they would be spelling.
It would be an all-hands-on-deck situation for the Cowboys at wide receiver, and although there aren’t many big names beyond Lamb and Cooks, there is quiet confidence that the group will be a good one in 2024.
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