The San Francisco 49ers are turning to a familiar veteran solution as injuries keep piling up in their receiver room, agreeing to add Brandin Cooks to the practice squad.
A person familiar with the deal said Tuesday that San Francisco reached the agreement with Cooks. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the signing had not yet been announced by the team. ESPN first reported the move.
The timing matters. The 49ers are set to face the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 11, and they needed another body at wideout after Demarcus Robinson went down with a high ankle injury in Sunday’s win over Miami. Robinson is expected to miss at least a few weeks and could land on injured reserve.
San Francisco’s receiver depth has been thinned for a while now. Projected starter Ricky Pearsall had season-ending knee surgery in training camp, and rookie De’Zhaun Stribling injured his ankle in the opener, an issue expected to keep him out for about two months.
Cooks, who turns 33 on Friday, spent last season with New Orleans and Buffalo and finished with 24 catches for 279 yards in 15 games. He entered free agency in March and had remained unsigned before deciding to join the 49ers.
Even with the injuries, San Francisco has leaned on an experienced offense. The 49ers became the first team in 22 years to start five non-quarterback skill players age 30 or older in the same game during the win over the Dolphins.
That veteran group has done plenty of damage early. Mike Evans, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Kyle Juszczyk and Robinson all caught touchdown passes in the first two games, while 30-year-old Christian McCaffrey has rushed for two scores.
There’s even a chance the 49ers could make a little more NFL history if Cooks and McCaffrey keep finding the end zone. The 2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team in league history to have six players age 30 or older catch a touchdown pass in the same season.
Cooks brings a résumé that stands out even in a room full of proven names. He is one of only two players in NFL history, along with Brandon Marshall, to record a 1,000-yard receiving season with four different teams. Cooks did it twice with New Orleans, and once each with the Los Angeles Rams, New England and Houston.
His career numbers are still climbing: 734 catches, 9,811 yards and 60 touchdowns. He needs 189 more receiving yards to become the sixth active player to reach 10,000 for his career.
The 49ers have an open spot on the practice squad, so they won’t need to make a corresponding roster move when the signing becomes official.
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