49ers Sign Veteran Brandin Cooks to Practice Squad Amid Receiver Crisis

Key points

• San Francisco 49ers signed Brandin Cooks to the practice squad on September 22, 2026.
• Cooks is a 12-year veteran who turns 33 on September 25 and has 734 career catches for 9,811 yards and 60 touchdowns.
• The move addresses injuries to Demarcus Robinson (ankle), Mike Evans (hip), Ricky Pearsall (out for season), and De’Zhaun Stribling (ankle surgery).
• Cooks previously worked out for the Baltimore Ravens but chose the 49ers offer.
• Head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated the team would evaluate players at the position ahead of Week 3.

Background

The 49ers had previously finalized a 13-player practice squad in early September, including KhaDarel Hodge, who has seen significant playing time due to current injuries. The team also added four players to the practice squad ahead of their Week 1 game in Australia. This latest signing follows a pattern of roster adjustments to manage depth issues.

How outlets are covering it

NBC Sports and Niners Nation agree that the signing is a direct response to injuries affecting the 49ers' receiving corps. NBC Sports notes that Cooks recently worked out for the Ravens, suggesting he had other options. Niners Nation highlights that Cooks will join his seventh career team and emphasizes his experience, noting he has had six seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards. Both sources confirm the injuries to Robinson, Evans, Pearsall, and Stribling as the primary drivers for this move. ESPN's report could not be accessed due to a server error, so its specific perspective is unavailable, but it is cited as the original source of the signing news by both other outlets.

Why it matters

The 49ers are 2-0 to start the season, but their receiving corps is significantly depleted. Signing a veteran like Cooks provides immediate depth and experience, potentially allowing him to be elevated to the active roster if needed. This move highlights the fragility of the 49ers' receiving group and the team's reliance on practice squad players to fill gaps in the short term.

What to watch

The 49ers will evaluate Cooks and other players at the wide receiver position ahead of Week 3. If injuries to Robinson and Stribling persist, Cooks could be elevated to the active roster. The team will also continue to monitor the health of Mike Evans and the status of other receivers.