The 49ers signed veteran WR Brandin Cooks to their practice squad as injuries pile up behind Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel. Here's why the move makes sense.
Two games into the season, the San Francisco 49ers look like one of the NFL's most complete teams. Look closer at the wide receiver room, though, and the picture gets a lot shakier.
That's the context behind Tuesday's news that San Francisco is bringing veteran Brandin Cooks aboard on the practice squad.
Don't read too much into the practice squad label. The plan is for Cooks to spend a short stretch learning Kyle Shanahan's offense before being promoted to the active roster.
Injuries have gutted the position
The 49ers' receiver problems started before the season even kicked off. Ricky Pearsall needed knee surgery during training camp and is done for the year.
That loss pushed the front office to bring back a familiar face, as Deebo Samuel returned on a one-year deal at the end of July after a single season in Washington. Samuel has been a welcome stabilizer, staying healthy through camp while Shanahan finds creative ways to use him as a receiver, ball carrier, and kick returner.
But one reunion wasn't enough to cover all the holes. Rookie De'Zhaun Stribling went under the knife for an ankle injury expected to cost him roughly ten weeks. Demarcus Robinson, who had stepped into a bigger role, then suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday's win over Miami, and Shanahan indicated he's likely headed to injured reserve. Christian Kirk has also been unavailable.
Then there's Mike Evans, who left the Dolphins game with a hip issue. Shanahan said Evans could have returned if the score had been closer, but the team will be monitoring him this week. With Evans banged up and Samuel as the only other proven veteran on the field, the 49ers are one more injury away from real trouble.
What Cooks can still offer
Nobody should expect the Cooks of a few years ago. His last 1,000-yard season came with Houston in 2021, and in 2025, he managed just 24 catches for 279 yards across 15 games split between New Orleans and Buffalo. He also turns 33 this week.
But San Francisco isn't asking him to carry the offense. Evans and Samuel remain the headliners. What the 49ers need is a reliable pro who can absorb a playbook quickly and be trusted when his number is called.
Over 12 seasons, Cooks has piled up 734 receptions, 9,811 yards, and 60 touchdowns, with six 1,000-yard campaigns. He's played in systems with the Saints, Patriots, Rams, Texans, Cowboys, and Bills, which should make his midseason transition smoother than most.
He showed he still has some juice, too, seeing real snaps for Buffalo in last year's playoffs and catching five balls for 78 yards across two games. And as a Stockton native, this is something of a homecoming.
The bottom line
This is a smart, low-cost move. The 49ers already went the veteran route once this summer with Samuel, and Cooks gives them another experienced option without the price of a trade.
If Evans holds up and Samuel keeps producing, Cooks becomes a safety net. If the injury bug keeps biting, he could be catching passes from Brock Purdy within weeks, sitting just 189 yards shy of 10,000 for his career.
For a Northern California kid, reaching that milestone in a 49ers uniform would make for a pretty good story.
