The San Francisco 49ers have signed veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks to their practice squad as injuries continue to plague their receiving corps just two weeks into the NFL season.
Why it matters: Cooks, entering his 13th NFL season, is expected to provide much-needed depth and experience to a severely depleted 49ers receiving group.
Cooks has played 12 seasons in the NFL, catching 734 passes for 9,811 yards and 60 touchdowns.
The team lost Demarcus Robinson to a high-ankle sprain during their recent victory over the Miami Dolphins, with Robinson likely headed to injured reserve.
Injuries have sidelined several key players, including Ricky Pearsall, who is out for the season, and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling, expected to miss 2.5 months after ankle surgery.
Driving the news: The signing of Cooks comes after the 49ers experienced a wave of injuries that left them with a thin receiver lineup. Cooks is anticipated to be promoted to the 53-man roster for upcoming games.
Robinson was carted off the field after suffering a high ankle sprain on September 20, 2026, during the game against Miami.
Stribling's injury occurred in the season opener against the Rams on September 10, forcing him to undergo surgery.
Other injured receivers include Christian Kirk, who is on injured reserve with a calf strain, and tight end Jake Tonges, who tore his ACL in Week 1.
State of play: With the current injuries, the 49ers are left with limited options at wide receiver. Cooks's experience could be a stabilizing factor for quarterback Brock Purdy.
Mike Evans is also dealing with a hip injury, raising concerns about his availability for the next game.
The available receivers include Deebo Samuel, Jordan Watkins, Jacob Cowing, and KhaDarel Hodge.
Cooks, who has six 1,000-yard seasons in his career, aims to quickly adapt to the team’s system.
The big picture: Cooks's addition is a strategic move by the 49ers as they aim to maintain competitiveness in a challenging season marked by injuries.
Last season, Cooks caught 24 passes for 279 yards across 15 games with the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills.
He is just 189 yards shy of reaching the 10,000 career receiving yards milestone, a mark achieved by only 57 players in NFL history.
His experience with teams that have Super Bowl aspirations, such as the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams, could prove invaluable.
What they're saying: Head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed confidence in the remaining receivers and acknowledged the team's efforts to address the injury situation.
“We expect those guys to be up and everyone's got to get more involved,” Shanahan said, referring to the need for other players to step up.
Shanahan also noted that general manager John Lynch and his team are exploring all options to bolster the roster.
Cooks’s signing is seen as a proactive step in light of the injuries affecting the team’s depth.
By the numbers: Cooks's career statistics highlight his potential impact on the field.
Cooks has recorded a total of 734 receptions, accumulating 9,811 receiving yards and scoring 60 touchdowns throughout his career.
He averaged approximately 13.4 yards per reception during his career, demonstrating his ability to stretch the field.
With 12 seasons under his belt, Cooks brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the 49ers.
What's next: The 49ers are set to face the Arizona Cardinals in their next game, where they will need to rely on their remaining receiving options.
Cooks is expected to be promoted from the practice squad to the active roster in time for the matchup.
The team will look to recover from the injuries and maintain momentum as they aim for a successful season.
Fans are eager to see how Cooks integrates into the 49ers' offense and contributes to their playoff aspirations.