FRISCO, Texas — The last time Brandin Cooks took the field for the Dallas Cowboys, it was Week 4 and they were handing the New York Giants a 20-15 loss. That makes the following news rather apropos, with the Dallas Cowboys officially activating the veteran wide receiver from injured reserve — setting up for a return against, guess who, the New York Giants.
So, yes, your kitchen won't be the only thing with Cooks in it this Thanksgiving.
To make room for Cooks on the active 53-man roster, Caelen Carson has been moved to injured reserve with a shoulder injury that's plagued him for weeks now and cost him several games, including the Week 11 matchup against the Washington Commanders.
That means, barring Trevon Diggs taking the field, which is unexpected due to a groin and knee injury he's working through, it will be Josh Butler again taking the start opposite DaRon Bland.
As for Cooks, the name of the game is eliminating as much rust as possible, and quickly.
Able to get off to a hot start to the 2024 season with a touchdown catch from Dak Prescott in the Week 1 victory over the Cleveland Browns, things quieted down for Cooks over the subsequent three games before he was moved to injured reserve due to infection in his knee that appeared following outside treatment.
He's since gone two months without playing in a game.
In that time, the Cowboys have traded to acquire Jonathan Mingo and with KaVontae Turpin showing what he can do offensively, creating an interesting dynamic alongside the return of Cooks as far as targets beside CeeDee Lamb goes. And then there's the factor at quarterback, seeing as Prescott is on season-ending injured reserve with a partially torn hamstring.
This time around, it's Cooper Rush throwing to Cooks, the two having little to no work with each other in regular season games; as Rush's previous stint as the Cowboys' starting quarterback occurred in 2022, prior to Cooks making his way to Dallas.
The sooner the two can get on the same page, the better, as the Cowboys sit at 4-7 on the season and lining up in their second game in only four days with a chance to move to 5-7 and, most importantly, to finally put an end to their losing streak at home.
Bottom line: Cooks is hoping to provide some good eats with all the fixings.
