Cowboys news: Brandin Cooks placed on IR, roster moves made

Todd Archer of ESPN (h/t Adam Schefter) reported that the team had placed receiver Brandin Cooks on injured reserve with a knee injury. This will keep him out of the lineup for at least four games.

Cooks reportedly had a procedure on his left knee last week “led to an infection, which required a clean-out surgery,” per Nick Eatman of DallasCowboys.com.

Cooks has made nine receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown in 2024. This is his second season with Dallas and he has solidified himself as a solid secondary option behind CeeDee Lamb.

Dallas will look to Jalen Tolbert to pick up the slack in Cooks’ absence, per Eatman. Tolbert has 13 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown thus far in 2024. Other receivers the team could lean on in Cooks’ absence include Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turnpin and Ryan Flourney.

The Cowboys are 2-2 and are coming off of a 20-15 win over the New York Giants in Week 4. Dallas is hoping to string some wins together and rise up the NFC East standings, but doing so without Cooks will be a challenge.

12:27 p.m. – These two moves were easy to predict, especially looking at the injury report.

The Cowboys elevated defensive end Carl Lawson and cornerback Amani Oruwariye to the game-day roster for Sunday.

This will be Lawson’s third and final elevation and the second time for Oruwariye, who ended up replacing Andrew Booth in the second half against the Giants and made the game-clinching interception.

The Cowboys listed both Trevon Diggs (ankle) and Caelen Carson (shoulder) as questionable to play.

Lawson is expected to provide pass-rush help with both Micah Parsons (ankle) out and DeMarcus Lawrence (foot) now on IR.

12:17 p.m – Needing some depth at linebacker, the Cowboys officially signed linebacker Nick Vigil up from their own practice squad.

Vigil played in the first three games of the season, getting elevated from the squad. But after using up all three of his NFL-allowed elevations, Vigil had to be moved to the roster in order to play anymore games this season.

Vigil takes the roster spot of Brandin Cooks, who was moved to IR-Designated to Return.

EDGE Defenders vs Justin Fields

Defensive ends Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence have both been ruled out of this game with their respective injuries. Behind them as the primary backups will likely be rookie Marshawn Kneeland and veteran utility player, Chauncey Golston.

There will be a rotation that also includes newly signed DE KJ Henry and practice squad standout Tyrus Wheat. Henry and Wheat will get plenty of snaps to try and help contain Steelers’ QB Justin Fields.

Through four weeks of football, Justin Fields has established himself as the second leading rusher on the team behind lead back Najee Harris. Fields isn’t as fast or shifty as Lamar Jackson, who rushed for 87 yards versus a healthier version of this defense, but the threat is real.

Containing Fields in the pocket and forcing him to use his arm to move the ball down the field is the best strategy to keep the Pittsburgh offense from finding success. The Chargers did just that, holding Fields to six yards on six rushes, but their secondary didn’t hold up their end of the bargain.

Los Angeles kept Fields in the pocket, but they also allowed him to complete 78% of his completions for 96.0 QB rating. It will be a team effort to slow down Justin Fields, but it starts with the edges.

Jake Ferguson vs Minkah Fitzpatrick

WR CeeDee Lamb is the unquestioned top playmaker on the Cowboys’ offense, but I do think people aren’t giving Jake Ferguson enough credit. The young tight end has been electric with the ball in his hands, and is always looking to make contact to pick up extra yardage.

Ferguson was forced to miss the loss versus the Saints after suffering a strained MCL and some bone bruising in his knee, but caught six and seven passes in the next two games, respectively.

The Steelers answer for Ferguson will likely be S Minkah Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick was acquired by the Steelers from the Miami Dolphins via trade during the 2019 season, and all he’s done under Mike Tomlin is earn 1st Team All-Pro honors twice.

Pittsburgh’s scheme this season has Fitzpatrick as the lone safety in a single-high look, but I think they break that cycle this week to have Fitzpatrick shadow Jake Ferguson.

One of the bread and butter throws for QB Dak Prescott is that seam throw up the middle of the field to Ferguson. Pittsburgh knows that, too, so it will be a good matchup between Ferguson and Fitzpatrick.

MVP: Dak Prescott

Despite the fact he only has one above-average wide receiver, a declining offensive line, and no running game, Prescott has overcome some struggles around him to once again rank as one of the NFL’s most efficient quarterbacks. The Cowboys may not win the Super Bowl this year, but they’ll have a shot due to Dak’s right arm.

MIP (Most Improved Player): Jalen Tolbert

While CeeDee Lamb is the obvious top target, and Jake Ferguson is behind him, Tolbert is making his name heard as the No. 2 wide receiver. As Brandin Cooks starts to decline, Tolbert has piled up the second-most yards and third-most catches on the team. The South Alabama product is finally starting to put it all together. With Cooks out this week and potentially longer with a knee infection, Tolbert will get a chance to prove he can be trusted as a WR2.

ROY: Cooper Beebe

The Cowboys took two offensive linemen in the first three rounds, but first-round pick Tyler Guyton has been a major problem as he tries to switch over from right tackle to left tackle. Beebe, meanwhile, looks like a rock-solid Tyler Biadasz replacement, as the former Kansas State guard has been a quality run-blocker instantly while holding his own in pass protection.