Brandin Cooks's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) is practicing and preparing to play against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, according to ESPN's Ed Werder. The 31-year-old has been on the Injured Reserve list since undergoing knee surgery following Week 4, but it sounds like he could return to action in Week 12. With CeeDee Lamb (back/foot) banged up, Cooks could enter the fantasy football radar in deeper setups, but his upside is likely limited catching passes from Cooper Rush. In four games this season, Cooks caught just nine passes for 91 yards and one touchdown. If Lamb is good to go for Week 12, Cooks should be left on the bench in leagues of 14 or fewer teams.UPDATE: Cooks was limited in practice again on Thursday.

The Dallas Cowboys opened running back Brandin Cooks' (knee) 21-day practice window on Wednesday to return from Injured Reserve. Head coach Mike McCarthy said on Tuesday that the team is hoping to get Cooks back for their Week 12 divisional tilt this Sunday against the Washington Commanders. The 31-year-old veteran has been out since Sept. 26 due to an infected right knee that required surgery, so even though his practice window has opened, he's not a lock to return this weekend. Cooks is going to need to prove to Dallas in practice this week that he's ready to roll. Even if he is cleared to play against Washington on Sunday, fantasy managers would be wise to avoid him in starting lineups with quarterback Cooper Rush now leading the offense. Cooks caught nine passes for 91 yards and one touchdown in four games before his injury.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said he's hoping the team will get wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) back for their Week 12 contest versus the division-rival Washington Commanders on Sunday. Cooks has been on Injured Reserve since Oct. 5 due to an infected right knee that required surgery. The fact that the Cowboys have yet to open the 31-year-old veteran's 21-day practice window before coming off IR makes us skeptical that we'll see Cooks on the field against the Commanders this weekend. And even if Cooks is activated from IR and is active on Sunday, we'd expect him to serve as more of Dallas' No. 3 receiver behind CeeDee Lamb and Jalen Tolbert in his first game back. Before his injury, Cooks had been a disappointing WR4/flex for fantasy managers, collecting nine catches for 91 yards and one touchdown. Things won't get any better with Cooper Rush at QB.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) is progressing well in his recovery from a knee injury, but he is not yet ready to return to practice, according to Cowboys writer Nick Harris. The 31-year-old has not played since Week 4, and it does not sound like he's close to playing in the Week 10 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Cooks hauled in nine passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in four games to begin the season this year, and he looks to be beyond his prime. Additionally, with Dak Prescott (hamstring) expected to miss multiple weeks and potentially go on IR, Cooks' upside would be limited with Cooper Rush under center even if he did return soon. The Cowboys also traded for former Panthers wideout Jonathan Mingo, so Cooks could have limited playing time as Dallas potentially sets its sights on the future. Fantasy managers with empty IR spots can consider stashing him, but it seems unlikely that he will become a key fantasy contributor down the stretch, especially while working his way back from a significant injury.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks (knee) is going on Injured Reserve on Saturday, which means he will miss at least the next four games. In a corresponding move, the Cowboys moved linebacker Nick Vigil to the active 53-man. Amani Oruwariye and Carl Lawson are also being elevated from the practice squad. Cooks had already been ruled out for Week 5's Sunday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but now he won't be eligible to return until Week 10 against the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys have their bye in Week 7. This news certainly makes Jalen Tolbert more attractive as a waiver-wire pickup if he's still available in your league, as he's expected to see a substantial role increase as the WR2 in Dallas behind CeeDee Lamb with Cooks sidelined. Cooks caught nine of 19 targets for 91 yards and one touchdown in the first four weeks of the season.