The Philadelphia Eagles have had many players come and go through the course of the offseason, but few have had the emotional roller coaster of Elijah Cooks. The third-year receiver has spent the last nine months on and off the team’s practice squad and recently signed with the team’s practice squad for the fourth time on Aug. 27.
With the season beginning, it figured that Cooks would be safe for a while. But the Eagles threw a wrench into that idea, announcing several moves that included Cooks’s release on Monday afternoon.
Eagles Release Elijah Cooks for the 4th Time Since January
According to the team’s official account, Cooks was released from the practice squad to accommodate for a series of moves on Monday afternoon. The Eagles also brought up outside linebacker Patrick Johnson to the active roster while signing running back Montrell Johnson and offensive lineman Hollin Pierce to the practice squad, leaving Cooks to search for another opportunity.
If the past is any indication, Cooks will be hanging around Philadelphia in case the phone rings. A UDFA out of San Jose State, Cooks spent his rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023 but failed to make the active roster during training camp in 2024. He spent the entire year with Jacksonville’s practice squad before signing with the Eagles' practice squad on their way to the Super Bowl.
Signed to a reserve/future contract on Feb. 14, Cooks took part in the offseason program and training camp before being waived again on Aug. 26. He was re-signed to the Eagles' practice squad the following day but lasted one week before getting waived again.
At this point, it’s a good bet that Cooks could latch on with the Eagles again since they’ve brought him back in the past. He also drew praise during training camp as head coach Nick Sirianni had kind words for the wideout shortly after the practice squad was finalized.
But at this point in the season, it’s possible another team may bring him in for an opportunity. Regardless, Cooks has been on a carousel over the past nine months and may need to look for a different team to find a chance to crack an active roster.