Brandin Cooks addresses frustration level regarding role in Cowboys offense
It’s reasonable to think that as CeeDee Lamb continues to put up career numbers each game, opposing defenses will start to pay more attention to him. And surely that means Cowboys receiver Brandin Cooks, finally, will be able to prove his worth.
Cooks is the one-time first-round pick who signed with the Cowboys in the off-season. Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees loved Cooks so much that he called Dallas offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and raved about him.
But so far, Cooks hasn’t done much, at least not statistically, with the Cowboys in his first year on the team. Instead, it’s Lamb who is dominating the Cowboys’ passing game. Maybe that changes this Sunday when the Cowboys play host to the Giants at AT&T Stadium. Coming into Sunday, Cooks has 17 receptions for 165 yards and two scores. That’s good enough for fifth on the team behind Lamb (57), tight end Jake Ferguson (32), running back Tony Pollard (29), and Michael Gallup (22).
Will Cowboys make room in offense for more Cooks?
Meanwhile, ever since Lamb let everyone know that he wasn’t satisfied with his role on the offense, quarterback Dak Prescott has been pelting him with passes. He’s produced three straight games of at least 100 reception yards. The last two games have been best-in-career numbers, with 158 yards against the Rams and 191 against the Eagles.
Surely, double teams are headed Lamb’s way, which could be a good thing for Cooks. And an experienced receiver not named Lamb is a good thing for the Cowboys in this situation.
“At the end of the day, if that happens, you best believe 3 will be ready,” Cooks told reporters, Thursday, as he referred to his own jersey number. “At the end of the day, I love seeing what he’s doing. However defenses want to guard him, if [double coverage] is going to be the case, I’d be ready.”
Conversely, Cooks caught one pass last week for a benign seven yards. But don’t talk to him about frustration. He’s not falling for that mental trap.
“Being around the game long enough, you get in these moments,” Cooks said after Thursday’s practice. “And when I say I’m not frustrated, the competitor in me obviously wants to continue and help, no doubt. But getting frustrated, all that does is, it’s going to affect your mental and go down a route you don’t want to go down.”
The Cowboys receiver said he’s going to stick with patience.
“I truly am just going to keep trusting it,” Cooks said. “That’s who I am. In my mind, it’s get back to work and work harder and when it comes, it’s going to come. I mean that. I really do.”