Houston Texans wide receiver Brandin Cooks, right, draws a pass interference call on 49ers cornerback Josh Norman during the fourth quarter of a game on Jan. 2, 2022, at Levi’s Stadium.
Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle
Brandin Cooks remembers it vividly. As a kid living in Stockton, he used to ride his bike to University of the Pacific, where the San Francisco 49ers held training camp from 1998 through 2002. Cooks would park himself on an overpass, hop off his bike and peek through the fence, hoping to catch a glimpse of his childhood heroes.
A young Cooks never got past that fence. He only watched from afar. He dreamed that, one day, he’d be a part of it. After spending 12 seasons in the NFL, it never happened. Cooks played for six NFL franchises, racked up nearly 10,000 receiving yards and played in 173 games. But never for the 49ers.
Until now.
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Cooks joined San Francisco’s practice squad Wednesday. The veteran wideout hopes, and plans, to work his way onto the organization’s active roster. And considering that the 49ers’ receiving corps has been ravaged by the injury bug (see De’Zhaun Stribling, Demarcus Robinson, Christian Kirk and Ricky Pearsall), he has a real shot to do that.
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“This is definitely a special moment for my family and I,” Cooks said at his locker ahead of Wednesday’s practice, sporting a wide smile and a black and red 49ers baseball cap. “A dream come true.”
Cooks, who turns 33 on Friday, has seen his numbers take a sharp downturn over the past few seasons. He has not earned over 600 receiving yards in a season since 2023. For many receivers, that might be their sign to hang up the cleats. But retirement never appeared to be in the cards for Cooks.
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He visited a number of teams over the past month. There were opportunities, he said, to sign elsewhere. But he was waiting for “that right moment.” When Shanahan and general manager John Lynch FaceTimed him and explained their pitch, Cooks quickly realized this was where he needed to be.
“I’ve always thought the world of Coach Shanahan and just his offensive mind,” Cooks said. “His ability to just be able to get guys open, move them around, whether it be running routes off the motion, there’s always something going on within this offense. … Obviously, year in and year out, you know they got a shot. And then for me personally, just to go out here and show that I can still play at a high level, and I’ll be able to do that under one of the masterminds of this game.”
“It was kind of a no-brainer.”
Cooks, who was training in Oregon, flew to Santa Clara on Tuesday to complete his physical and officially put pen to paper.
Shanahan explained that he has admired Cooks’ game for a decade. Somehow, the receiver has been in the league longer than Shanahan has been a head coach (2014 vs. 2017). While Shanahan expressed excitement over Cooks’ arrival, he didn’t want to get too far ahead of himself. When asked for a realistic timeline on when Cooks could play in a game, Shanahan said: “I have no idea. It’s only my first day seeing him, so I’m not sure. But we’re down guys, so as soon as he’s ready. We usually get five guys up for game day, so as soon as he can show he’s one of those five.”
There are lots of moving parts in the 49ers’ receiver room at the moment. Robinson, who suffered a high ankle sprain Sunday against the Dolphins, will likely land on the injured reserve list, Shanahan said Wednesday. They could open Kirk’s practice window after Week 4’s matchup with the Denver Broncos. Mike Evans did not participate in Wednesday’s practice due to a hip injury, but the nature of his injury does not sound too serious. Stribling will miss at least 10 weeks after surgery to repair a deltoid sprain in his ankle. And Pearsall (knee) is out for the season.
Jordan Watkins, despite holding a spot on the 53-man roster, was inactive for each of the 49ers’ first two games. Jacob Cowing and KhaDarel Hodge were, but both players are primarily used on special teams.
What does that all mean for Cooks? Probably that he has a strong chance of eventually working his way onto the field.
If he is moved to the active roster, the 49ers’ six wideouts could be Cooks, Evans, Deebo Samuel, Watkins, Cowing and Hodge. It would be a top-heavy group in terms of experience and production. Cooks, Evans and Samuel have combined for 2,204 catches, 28,564 receiving yards and 221 total touchdowns. Watkins, Cowing and Hodge have combined for 74 catches, 1,150 yards and two touchdowns; Hodge has 68 of those catches.
Sightseers on Pier 39 look out over the bay as a controlled fire burns on Angel Island Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.
Sightseers on Pier 39 look out over the bay as a controlled fire burns on Angel Island Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026.