San Francisco 49ers Add Veteran Receiver Brandin Cooks

Niners boost receiver depth

The San Francisco 49ers are adding experience to their team by signing veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks. A source confirmed on Tuesday that Cooks is joining the team's practice squad. The initial plan is for the 32-year-old to get up to speed before he plays in actual games.

This signing is a direct response to a series of injuries that have hit the San Francisco receiving group. The Niners have already lost Ricky Pearsall, De'Zhaun Stribling, and Demarcus Robinson to injuries during this campaign. On top of that, veteran receiver Mike Evans is dealing with a hip injury that the team will need to manage this week.

Cooks' long career path

Cooks brings a wealth of experience to San Francisco, having played for several teams during his 12 seasons in the league. He has recorded 734 career receptions for 9,811 yards and 62 total touchdowns. He has also played in two Super Bowls, appearing in Super Bowl LII with the New England Patriots and Super Bowl LIII with the Los Angeles Rams, though he lost both games.

His career began in 2014 when the New Orleans Saints selected him as the 20th overall pick out of Oregon State. After spending his first three seasons there, he eventually returned to New Orleans in 2025. However, he was waived in November after requesting his release. He then signed with the Buffalo Bills for the rest of that year.

His time with the Bills included a highly talked about moment in the playoffs. In a divisional round game against the Denver Broncos, a deep pass from quarterback Josh Allen in overtime looked like a catch by Cooks. However, the ball was taken away as he hit the ground, resulting in an interception by Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian. The Bills lost without getting the ball back, and coach Sean McDermott was very unhappy with the officiating.