It isn’t just veteran running back Nyheim Hines joining the New Orleans Saints practice squad before this Sunday’s game with the New York Jets. The Saints also added former Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Elijah Cooks.
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Cooks signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent back in 2023. He spent five years at Nevada playing college football before transferring to San Jose State, where he won All-Mountain West recognition after catching 69 passes for 1,076 yards and 10 touchdowns. He appeared in 11 games with the Jaguars, totaling three receptions for 38 yards, before signing with the Eagles practice squad in time for their Super Bowl run this past January. He worked out for a couple of different teams this season before landing in New Orleans.
The Saints are beaten up at the skills positions. The receiving corps will be without Devaughn Vele this week while he manages a shoulder injury, and Mason Tipton wasn’t spotted at practice on Thursday, either (due to an illness). Cooks shouldn’t be expected to play after just two or three days of practice but it does sound like we should have Kevin Austin Jr. and either Samori Toure or Ronnie Bell in the lineup. Stay tuned for corresponding moves on these two new additions.