Sources - Cowboys' Brandin Cooks out at least 1 game after infection - ESPN

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys will be without wide receiver Brandin Cooks for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers — and potentially longer — after an infection developed in his right knee following a procedure last week, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.

Cooks had a procedure in New York following last week's win against the Giants, sources said. After he developed symptoms upon his return to Dallas, Cooks had surgery to clean out the infection in his knee. That was performed by team doctors over the weekend.

Coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Cooks wouldn't play against the Steelers on Sunday.

Cooks, 31, had been dealing with a knee issue since training camp, but it did not keep him from practicing or playing. He had a similar procedure done over the summer during training camp without any issues.

In the first four games, Cooks has nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown, but four of those receptions — and his TD — came in the season-opening win against the Cleveland Browns.

The Cowboys have had difficulty getting Cooks going offensively since acquiring him in a trade from the Houston Texans in 2023. He came to the Cowboys with six 1,000-yard seasons to his credit with four different franchises (New Orleans, New England, Los Angeles Rams, Houston).

Cooks, who had 54 catches for 657 yards and eight touchdowns last season, has been a valuable mentor to the wide receivers and entire locker room. During training camp, he displayed his top-end speed to make numerous plays.

His absence leaves the Cowboys thin and inexperienced at receiver behind CeeDee Lamb, who has 20 receptions for 316 yards and two touchdowns.

The Cowboys have Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, KaVontae Turpin and Ryan Flournoy, who has yet to be