Texans HC Lovie Smith blasts trade deadline questions surrounding Brandin Cooks
Hours ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET trade deadline, one of the biggest names on the Houston Texans offense was missing from practice . Wide receiver Brandin Cooks has been involved in rampant trade rumors in recent weeks, but according to head coach Lovie Smith, Cooks missed practice Tuesday for "personal reasons."
Smith went on to say that the 29-year-old has a "big role" for the team and is one of the "best players" on the squad and that the organization likes having "him here."
Cooks, indeed, is one of the focal points of the Texans offense. Through seven games, he leads Houston in targets (53), receptions (32) and receiving yards (354).
Cooks paced the Texans in all three categories last season as well, to go along with a team-high six touchdown receptions. His 134 targets in 2021 were more than double any other Houston player, as were his 1,037 receiving yards, and his 90 catches were nearly three times more than Nico Collins, who ranked second with 33 receptions.
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