CBS Sports: Cowboys lose another sensational starter as key WR will miss week 5 game.

Following the announcement that DE Micah Parsons will probably miss the Cowboys’ primetime game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night, and the placement of defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence on the injured reserve list, Dallas revealed that starting wide receiver Brandin Cooks contracted an infection in his knee following injections for a wound he sustained during the team’s Week 4 victory over the New York Giants.

Cooks will not play in the Steelers game due to the virus.

According to various sources, WR Brandin Cooks suffered a procedure that left him in New York after the Cowboys’ victory over the Giants, and as a result, an infection developed in his right knee. This means that Cooks will be out of action for at least this week’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers and possibly longer.

— October 2, 2024, Todd Archer (@toddarcher)

This season, Cooks, CeeDee Lamb, and Jalen Tolbert have made up the Cowboys’ starting trio of wide receivers.

Cooks has nine receptions for 91 yards and one score so far in 2024. The 31-year-old veteran is now playing in his 11th NFL season. After winning the Biletnikoff Award at Oregon State in 2013, Cooks was a first-round selection in the 2014 NFL Draft. He’s in his second season as a Cowboy, having already had six seasons with 1,000 yards in the receiving category.

To cover for Cooks’ absence, Dallas will turn to reserve receivers KaVontae Turpin and Jalen Brooks. For the Cowboys in 16 games last season, Turpin caught 12 passes for 3 touchdowns. A dynamic athlete, he also scored a touchdown on 11 carries while rushing for 110 yards. In addition, he had an incredible punt return for a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in Week 1 of this season.

Ryan Flournoy, a rookie wide receiver who hasn’t played yet this season, could perhaps be included against the Steelers. As a captain at Southeast Missouri State the previous season, Flournoy caught 61 passes for 984 yards and seven touchdowns.

Regarding injuries, one encouraging development for Dallas is that rookie cornerback Caelen Carson, who started against the Giants last week, appears to be healthy enough to play against the Steelers.

Cooks will be out of commission for at least a week, if not longer. Cooks “should feel great in one to three weeks,” according to the Cowboys team physician, as reported by NFL Network.