Brandin Cooks Defends Texans' Week 18 Win: 'Never Suit Up To Lose!'
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans hold the No. 2 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. But if not for a Week 18 victory against the Indianapolis Colts, the Texans would have had the top overall selection.
Former Texans' wide receiver Brandin Cooks played a significant role in helping Houston take the 32-31 win at Lucas Oil Stadium. The consensus believed Houston would throw the game to wrap up the No. 1 pick, but Cooks explained the reasoning for the Texans' late-season victory.
"You never suit up to lose, right?" Cooks said per ESPN. "You know that No. 1 pick is out there. But at the end of the day, you go out between those white lines you're putting out your resume. So as a competitor you're not going out there saying 'I'm not going to give them my all because I want the Texans to have the No. 1 pick.' Just happened to be one of those situations where it was a nail bitter, and most people were probably like, 'Wait, why are you guys winning?' We don't play to lose, at least from a player's standpoint."
Cooks put together his most impressive performance of the season against the Colts with 106 yards on five catches and a touchdown.
The game showcased why Cooks was Houston's top receiver since the franchise acquired him from the Los Angeles Rams in March 2020. In 44 games in Houston, Cooks recorded 2,886 yards on 238 catches and 15 touchdowns. He also reached the 1,000-yard receiving mark in two of his three seasons with the Texans.
Cooks made it clear at the end of the 2022 campaign that he no longer wanted to be a part of the Texans' rebuild. On March 19, Houston traded Cooks to the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round pick in 2023 and a sixth-round pick in 2024.
Second-year quarterback Davis Mills added to Houston's late-season win with a game-winning drive on Jan. 8. In the final 2 minutes and 43 seconds, Houston recorded 83 yards in 14 plays that ended with Mills connecting with tight end Jordan Akins for a game-winning 28-yard touchdown.
You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24
Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Houston Texans? Click Here
Follow Texans Daily on Twitter and Facebook
Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @LockedOnTexans today! Click here To Listen.
Want even more Houston Texans news? Check out the SI.com team page here.
