The Dallas Cowboys have lost another starting player before their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Dallas Morning News that Brandin Cooks will miss the Steelers game after an infection developed in his right knee after receiving an injection for knee discomfort.
After the Cowboys’ victory against the New York Giants on Thursday, Cook remained in the New York/New Jersey area and received the injection from an independent doctor to deal with issues in his meniscus.
Cowboys team physician Dan Cooper cleaned out the infection once Cooks returned to Dallas earlier this week.
Cooks’ return is uncertain but he could miss the next two games, returning after the bye week to face San Francisco on Oct. 27.
“I mean, Brandin Cooks is somebody that really made a big impact on our football team,” coach Mike McCarthy said before Wednesday’s practice. “It goes beyond the field. You talk about a true pro, teaching others, particularly young players, taking them under his wing. He’s done all those things that you look for in a veteran player. So yeah, I mean, Brandin Cooks has a lot of love and respect in this building.”
Dallas is already without top defensive stars Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, who both suffered injuries against the Giants.
The Cowboys signed defensive end KJ Henry to the active roster Tuesday from the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad to help mitigate that deficiency on the depth chart. Now, a new problem has emerged on the other side of the ball.
Cooks has nine catches for 99 yards and a touchdown in the season’s first four games. Since joining the Cowboys before the start of the 2023 season, he has 63 catches for 748 yards and nine scores.
With Cooks out, the Cowboys will look toward Jalen Tolbert to move into the starting lineup alongside CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys also have Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy and KaVontae Turpin on the roster at receiver.
McCarthy said he likes what the team currently has on the 53-man roster and practice squad. The team at this stage isn’t interested in trading for another receiver.
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