Brandin Cooks Injury: Updates on Saints Star's Wrist and Return

New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Brandin Cooks has been impressive this season, but he will not take the field again this year due to a wrist injury.

Continue for updates.

Tuesday, Nov. 18

Saints Place Cooks on Injured Reserve

ESPN's Field Yates had the report on Cooks:

Cooks Suffers Thumb Injury

Victor Howell of CoxSportsTV.com first reported the diagnosis:

Cooks' agent, Jeff Sperbeck confirmed the news regarding his client on his Twitter account:

ESPN.com's Mike Triplett weighed in on the impact of Cooks' injury:

As Triplett points out, the prospect of playing without Cooks is particularly worrisome for the Saints because of his overall potential and their recent offensive woes. 

Cooks, a consensus All-American and a member of the Pac-12 Conference First Team in 2013, accumulated 550 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 53 catches before the injury. He also rushed the ball seven times for 73 yards and a score through his first 10 games. 

Between Marques Colston, Jimmy Graham, Kenny Stills, Joseph Morgan and even Travaris Cadet, the Saints have an embarrassment of riches in the passing attack for Drew Brees, though it hasn't resulted in many wins this season. This injury still hurts, however, because Cooks is a speedster who can open up underneath routes for others by beating cornerbacks over the top.

The Saints will have to hope Cooks is as quick in the injury-recovery department as he is on the field in order to further develop chemistry between the rookie and Brees. Still, the offense should be capable of replacing his production elsewhere, and his injury shouldn't have a long-term effect on his career.

For fantasy owners looking to make a run to the playoffs with Cooks, it's time to look elsewhere.