Brandin Cooks Preaches Dallas Cowboys 'Trust': Big Numbers 'Gonna Come!'
Dallas Cowboys receiver Brandin Cooks hasn't been the beacon of production some thought he would be entering the season. For the most part, Cooks has been on the periphery of the offense and is coming off a one-catch, seven-yard game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Prior to that, Cooks had back-to-back games where he had a touchdown catch, as his form line this season resembles a yo-yo, not the player who has six 1,000+ yard receiving seasons.
But if you think he is one to kick up a stink about his lack of targets and production, think again.
"I'm not going down that path," Cooks said. "Early on in my career, I went down that path, and it's not good for you mentally or the guys that are around you. When I say I trust it, I trust Coach (Mike McCarthy), I trust Dak (QB Prescott), and I trust the offense. It's gonna come, and when it comes, you'll know."
In his seven games, Cooks has just 17 receptions for 165 yards and two touchdowns, as CeeDee Lamb and tight end Jake Ferguson have been the leading stars on offense.
Despite a lack of targets and production, Cowboys receiver Brandin Cooks is trusting in the offensive process.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
But Cooks has shown up in key moments for the Cowboys in a similar vein to T.Y. Hilton last season. Out of his 17 receptions, 13 of them have gone for first downs, as when Dak Prescott needs the chains moved, No. 3 gets it done.
With Lamb on a blistering three-game run of form that has seen him torch secondaries for fun on his way to totaling 30 receptions for 466 yards and two touchdowns, naturally, opposing defenses will do their utmost to stop 88.
But in doing so, opportunities could open up for the likes of Cooks, Michael Gallup, and even Jalen Tolbert.
"If that happens, best believe three will be ready," Cooks said.
Maybe it'll happen for the 5-3 Cowboys on Sunday as they host the 2-7 Giants. But there are, to be fair, only so many balls to go around; as McCarthy said earlier this week in chiding the media, "I don't play Fantasy Football.''
Still ... It hasn't been the season many had hoped for Cooks, but being the true veteran and team player he is, he's focusing on the collective rather than his own personal stats. And perhaps, right now, at least, that is more valuable to the Cowboys than Cooks lighting up the stat sheet.
