Patriots receiver Brandon Cooks was injured on a hard hit by Patriots safety Malcolm Jenkins in the second quarter of Super Bowl 52 on Sunday.
Brandin Cooks out for Super Bowl 52 after taking high hit from Malcolm Jenkins
The Patriots’ most prolific wide receiver is done.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
He is out for the game with a head injury, the team announced.
Cooks, probably New England’s most talented wide receiver, had just gotten crushed by Jenkins’ safety partner, Rodney McLeod, on the Patriots’ last drive.
Cooks had 16 catches of more than 20 yards this season, NBC reported. A former Saint who the Patriots acquired in a trade before the season, he’s a speed receiver who’s found instant chemistry with Tom Brady. He totaled 1,082 receiving yards and scored seven touchdowns in the regular season, two yards off the team lead.
He’s the second Patriots target in as many games to take a hit that necessitates him going through the NFL concussion protocol. Rob Gronkowski had to go through the protocol after an AFC Championship Game hit against Jacksonville.
Cooks has been incredibly durable over his four-year NFL career. He played in all 16 games each of the last three seasons and has mostly avoided injuries.
He’s a vital loss for the Patriots. They’ve overcome big losses before, of course, but not having him will make things a lot harder on Brady and the New England offense.
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