Brandin Cooks needed eight days on the 49ers' practice squad to reach the 53
San Francisco released KhaDarel Hodge, who has a knee injury, to make the room, with Mike Evans still off the practice field three days before Denver.
San Francisco put Brandin Cooks on the 53 on Thursday. The club promoted him from the practice squad and released KhaDarel Hodge to make the room, per its release. It also signed Malik Turner to the practice squad. Hodge had missed Wednesday and Thursday with a knee injury. 49ers Webzone describes the release as an injury settlement; the club's release says only that he was released.
What Cooks brings. The release gives him 173 games, 149 starts and 734 catches for 9,811 yards across 13 seasons with six clubs. He is 32 and from Stockton. He signed to the practice squad on September 23 and was not elevated for Arizona, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. Kyle Shanahan said that week he would play "as soon as he's ready," per David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak on Thursday called it "a tough position to play in our offense," and said Cooks's years around the league are "what gives us confidence that he's ready to be elevated and ready to help us," per 49ers Webzone. Brock Purdy's read: "He's quick, he looks great, he looks fresh."
The room for Denver. Five receivers are on the 53: Cooks, Jacob Cowing, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel Sr. and Jordan Watkins, on the club's roster page. Evans is the one who is hurt. Hodge leaves with three games and one catch for 18 yards this season, per the release.
Evans sat again. He did not practice for a second day, with the rib injury from Sunday's win over Arizona, per the club's Thursday report as carried by Bonilla. He worked on the side and played catch, gingerly, with Samuel, per the same report. John Lynch on the timeline: "It's still Thursday, and a couple more days before we kick off." Shanahan's line from Monday stands: "It shouldn't be long-term."
Trent Williams is back. He was limited on Thursday after the neck stinger he took against Arizona, per Bonilla. Lynch, before practice: "we're hoping to get Trent back out today at practice, and we'll see where it goes from there." Christian McCaffrey returned in full after Wednesday's rest day.
Still out. Nick Bosa (knee, calf), Dre Greenlaw (quadriceps), Hodge (knee), James Thompson Jr. (ankle) and Keion White (hamstring) did not practice, per the report. Greenlaw and White worked on the side. Romello Height (hand) and Mykel Williams (knee) were limited again. Williams cannot play before Week 5 at Seattle.
Turner, again. He spent part of 2025 on the practice squad and played three games for the club, per the release, which also has the club releasing him on August 30. He is the fourth receiver on the squad, with Wesley Grimes, Will Pauling and Dante Pettis, who signed Wednesday. Cooks off and Turner on leaves the squad at 18, with Vincent Anthony Jr. still listed two days after Bonilla reported his release.
Purdy's September. The NFL named Purdy NFC Offensive Player of the Month, per 49ers Webzone. Across three games he completed 72.3 percent for 789 yards, nine touchdowns and one interception, a 133.1 rating that leads the league. It is his first monthly award. The other 49ers quarterbacks to win one are Steve Young, Joe Montana and Jeff Garcia, per the same report.
