The Dallas Cowboys brought in Brandin Cooks with the expectation that he would be the No. 2 receiver next to CeeDee Lamb, but through the first half of the season, that didn't exactly pan out.
In his first seven games as a Cowboy, Cooks, a six-time 1,000-yard receiver, had just 17 catches for 165 yards and two touchdowns. It may have been due to injuries, as Cooks missed a Week 2 game against the New York Jets, or being overshadowed by other pass-catchers, or any other reason. One thing's for sure, though, Cooks didn't let his lack of production get to him.
"I'm not going down that path," Cooks said earlier this week. "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 (Prescott), and I trust the offense. It's gonna come, and when it comes, you'll know."
Cooks' patience paid off in a big way, as he finally had his first big game as a Cowboy on Sunday against the New York Giants. Cooks was all over the field, catching nine passes for 173 yards, more than he had the entire season to this point, and a touchdown. The 10-year veteran was the Cowboys' leading receiver on a day where they crushed their rivals 49-17.
The best part is that the Cowboys' other receivers thrived alongside Cooks. Lamb had 11 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown, marking his fourth game in a row with over 100 yards. Michael Gallup caught two passes for 70 yards and a touchdown, Jake Ferguson added 26 yards and a touchdown on four receptions, and so on. When Cooks got the ball, the Cowboys thrived.
Cooks promised he'd be ready whenever he got a greater opportunity, and with the way he played on Sunday, he more than backed up that claim.
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