Brandin Cooks ruled out of Super Bowl after crushing hit (Video)

New England Patriots wide receiver Brandin Cooks took a wicked shot from Malcolm Jenkins in the second quarter, and stayed down on the field in pain.

With 12:59 in the second quarter of Super Bowl LII, Brandin Cooks caught a Tom Brady pass and headed upfield before doubling back. Unfortunately for Cooks and the Patriots, safety Malcolm Jenkins was ready and waiting, leveling Cooks at the end of a 23-yard gain.

Cooks was able to walk off the field under his own power but was taken to the locker room, making it the second game in a row that Brady has lost a key weapon in the second quarter. Last week, it was tight end Rob Gronkowski who had to depart after being crushed by Jacksonville jaguars safety Barry Church. Gronkowski was later diagnosed with a concussion and held out of practice in full until Thursday, when he finally cleared.

UPDATE: Cooks has been ruled out for the rest of the night, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Here’s the video of Cooks getting walloped by Jenkins:

Before anybody starts complaining about Jenkins’ hit, there was nothing illegal about it. Cooks was in possession of the ball and wasn’t defenseless, so any hit to the head there is legal, just as it would be on a running back.

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With Cooks being ruled out for the rest of the night, the Patriots will be leaning on Danny Amendola and Chris Hogan to step up. Gronkowski will also become a larger factor as the night wears on, although Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will continue to give help from safeties Rodney McLeod and Jenkins.