Cooks hasn't considered retiring over concussion concerns: 'Absolutely not'

Brandin Cooks never considered walking away from football while recovering from his latest concussion.

"Absolutely not," the Los Angeles Rams receiver said Thursday, according to Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. "No doubt about it. When it happened, that never went through my mind, and even now it's not going through my mind."

Cooks, who's been cleared to return for Los Angeles' Week 12 clash with the Baltimore Ravens, missed the Rams' last two games after sustaining a concussion on Oct. 27.

It was his second concussion in a 25-day span and prompted two visits to a specialist in Pittsburgh. The 26-year-old has suffered four documented concussions since Super Bowl LII in 2018, with a fifth one on record from earlier in his career.

"One of the biggest things that I learned, concussions (are) a case-by-case thing," Cooks said. "To be able to go there and get some information from Dr. (Michael) Collins in Pittsburgh was extremely helpful. I'm just thankful for the team - putting me in the right position and looking out for my best interest."

Cooks said he's working with a new helmet, but the concussions he's picked up this season are "not really concerning at all" to him.

"I understand that it's one of the things that's part of the game," said Cooks, who's in the first season of a five-year, $81-million contract. "What's going through my mind is like, 'OK, let's get some answers.' Then figuring out what's going on. It's a blessing that I don't have ever have symptoms after."

In eight appearances this season, Cooks has 27 receptions for 402 yards and one touchdown. The speedster has eclipsed 1,000 yards in receiving in each of the previous four campaigns.

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