The Baltimore Ravens worked out veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks on Thursday as their receiving corps continues to absorb injuries ahead of Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints.
The workout comes with Zay Flowers missing a second consecutive practice because of a hamstring injury and rookie Ja’Kobi Lane already on injured reserve following wrist surgery. According to the NFL transaction wire, Cooks visited Baltimore for a workout Thursday. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that no signing is imminent, but the 12-year veteran is an option if the Ravens decide they need another experienced receiver.
Why the Brandin Cooks workout matters now
FSN has already covered Flowers missing Wednesday’s practice as the hamstring issue carried into Week 2. Thursday’s development is different because Baltimore is now actively evaluating outside receiver help while Flowers remains unavailable for practice.
The Ravens are also operating without Lane, who underwent wrist surgery and was placed on injured reserve. FSN reported on Baltimore placing Lane on IR and promoting Chris Moore to the 53-man roster. The Cooks workout shows the club is continuing to assess the market rather than assuming the current receiver group is sufficient for the next several weeks.
Flowers’ second missed practice raises the urgency
Baltimore’s official Thursday practice update listed Flowers as a non-participant again. Head coach Jesse Minter has described him as day to day, but back-to-back missed practices leave Friday as the final major checkpoint before the Ravens assign their Week 2 game-status designations.
Flowers was the most explosive player in Baltimore’s Week 1 win over Indianapolis before the hamstring injury ended his afternoon early. Losing him and Lane at the same time would remove two receivers from a group that already had to redistribute snaps after the opener.
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle acknowledged Thursday that game plans have to change based on player availability. That does not mean Baltimore has decided Flowers will sit Sunday, but it explains why evaluating a veteran such as Cooks makes sense before the final injury report is filed.
What Cooks would bring if Baltimore signs him
Cooks has played 12 NFL seasons and has been a productive deep and intermediate target for multiple teams. NBC Sports noted that he has appeared in 173 regular-season games with 149 starts and has 734 career receptions for 9,811 yards and 60 touchdowns.
At this stage of his career, Baltimore would not need him to recreate his peak seasons. The value would be experience, route familiarity and the ability to step into a limited role without requiring the same developmental runway as a younger receiver.
Cooks also has recent AFC experience after finishing the 2025 season with Buffalo. That familiarity does not guarantee a fit in Baltimore’s offense, but it gives the Ravens a veteran option who has handled multiple systems and high-pressure game situations.
No signing is imminent
The important distinction is that this was a workout, not a completed transaction. NBC Sports reported that no signing is imminent. Baltimore may simply be gathering information in case Flowers’ hamstring does not progress or another receiver becomes unavailable.
That makes the workout a roster-preparation move rather than evidence that the Ravens have already decided Flowers will miss Week 2.
Baltimore still has healthy receivers on the roster, including Chris Moore, Rashod Bateman, Devontez Walker, Elijah Sarratt and LaJohntay Wester. The question is whether the coaching staff wants another experienced option available while Lane is on IR and Flowers’ status remains unsettled.
What to watch Friday
The first signal is Flowers’ practice participation. If he returns in any capacity Friday, the Ravens will have a more encouraging path toward using him against New Orleans. A third consecutive absence would make the final designation significantly more important.
The second is whether Baltimore takes another step with Cooks after the workout. A contract would immediately turn the visit into a depth-chart story. If no deal follows, the Ravens may simply keep his name available as they monitor Flowers and the rest of the receiver room.
For now, the key development is that Baltimore is preparing for uncertainty. Flowers has missed two practices, Lane is unavailable for at least four games, and the Ravens have now brought in one of the league’s most experienced unsigned receivers for a look.
Sources
- Baltimore Ravens: Zay Flowers among players not practicing Thursday (September 17, 2026)
- NBC Sports: Ravens worked out Brandin Cooks on Thursday (September 17, 2026)
- NFL Trade Rumors: Brandin Cooks tryout listed on NFL transaction wire (September 17, 2026)