The Dallas Cowboys turned the page in their wide receiver room last week when third-year playmaker Jalen Brooks was dropped from the practice squad via injury settlement, per KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson. Brooks' release was far from surprising, given that he had only played 21 snaps (4 offensive, 17 special teams) in one appearance with the Cowboys this season.
With a not-so-impressive track record at the NFL level, it wouldn't have been surprising if Brooks struggled to find a new playing opportunity. Teams aren't always willing to roll the dice on a former seventh-round pick who lacks accomplishments, after all. Fortunately, that isn't the case for the ex-Cowboy.
On Thursday, Arizona Cardinals reporter Darren Urban revealed that Brooks has been signed to the Cardinals' practice squad, which is the type of move that could get his career back on track.
Joining Cardinals Is Perfect for Ex-Cowboys WR Jalen Brooks
Interestingly enough, Cowboys fans will find out soon if releasing the ex-South Carolina Gamecock was a mistake. Dallas is hosting Arizona for the Week 9 Monday Night Football showdown, meaning a potential elevation to the 53-man roster will happen sooner rather than later.
Nevertheless, Brooks is only 25 years old, so he likely has plenty of football in front of him. Joining a WR-needy team like the Cardinals is a brilliant move for him, especially if he winds up playing himself into head coach Jonathan Gannon's lineup.
The Cardinals' passing game can't rely on tight end Trey McBride every week, and it isn't a secret that their wideouts haven't done much this season apart from Marvin Harrison Jr. converting 24 catches into 396 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Zay Jones (12-183-0) and Michael Wilson (15-136-1) are the next best WRs on Arizona's depth chart, proving that the door is open for Brooks to earn a real role.
Brooks hasn't done much through parts of three seasons, but he has shown flashes of potential. His average yards per reception leaped from 10.7 in his rookie year to 14.8 in 2024, which only trails Harrison (16.5) and Jones (15.3) when it comes to the Cardinals' current WRs. An immediate connection with quarterbacks Kyler Murray and Jacoby Brissett could see Brooks finish the year as Arizona's WR2 if he plays his cards right.
Brooks' time in the Lone Star State wasn't perfect, and it's time for both sides to move on. Despite any struggles or frustrations during that stint, Cowboys fans are wishing Brooks nothing but the best going forward with his new opportunity (just as long as any success waits until after Monday's game).