Bad enough that those counting on Mark Ingram for the fantasy playoffs won't have him. It appears that Brandin Cooks won't be available for New Orleans, either.
Cooks showed up on yesterday's injury report with a concussion, which he apparently suffered in practice. What is it with practice injuries? J.J. Watt broke his hand in practice, and Bears receivers get hurt during the week all the time. Allen Iverson is shaking his head.
The concussion protocol probably doesn't give Cooks enough time to be cleared for Sunday's game, although that's not official. We'll know more by the end of the day, when our Friday Update will be released.
If Cooks can't go, it would benefit the Saints' other wide receivers: Willie Snead, Marques Colston and Brandon Coleman. Snead missed last week with an injury himself, but he's at least practicing on a limited basis this week and should return. If he does, he'd be the No. 1 in this offense.
Coleman got a touchdown last week with Snead out; he might benefit most from Cooks' absence. Small comfort, though, to those who were planning to start Cooks and will likely have to look elsewhere.
--Andy Richardson