Brandin Cooks injury update: Dallas Cowboys WR return timeline hits snag

According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Dallas Cowboys are set to be without wide receiver Brandin Cooks for Sunday night’s contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, Cooks could miss multiple weeks due to complications in his right knee following a procedure.

The injury occurred following Thursday’s win against the New York Giants. Cooks did not travel home with the team immediately to get the surgery done and is now set to be away from them for even more time.

“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,” Archer said via X.

Cooks has been targeted 19 times by quarterback Dak Prescott this season, only connecting on nine of those throws. His 91 yards through four games is good enough for fourth on the Cowboys this season, adding a touchdown in the opener against the Cleveland Browns.

As mentioned, Dallas is set to face Pittsburgh on the road on Sunday before heading back to AT&T Stadium for a matchup against the Detroit Lions. Cooks would then have an opportunity to recover for a whole two weeks without having to miss a game as the Cowboys have a bye. Oct. 27 against the San Francisco 49ers would be their next game.

Prescott is currently leading one of the best statistical passing attacks in the NFL, ranking No. 4 in passing yards through Week 4. CeeDee Lamb remains his top weapon but not having Cooks limits what is already a thin wide receiver corps.

Somebody like Jalen Tolbert will have to emerge and potentially emerge into Prescott’s second target. Tolbert has caught 13 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown this season, on pace to shatter last year’s career season.