Cowboys' Cooks out vs. Steelers after reported knee procedure

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Brandin Cooks will be sidelined for Week 5 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and potentially longer after developing an infection in his right knee, sources told ESPN's Todd Archer.

Cooks remained in New York after last Thursday's win over the Giants to receive meniscus injections, a source told NFL Network's Jane Slater. His knee became infected, and the wideout reportedly had it scoped back in Dallas to clean out the infection and address the meniscus issue.

Head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Wednesday that Cooks will miss Sunday's game but declined to get into specifics of the injury, per Slater.

The Cowboys are now expected to be without Cooks and defensive stars DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons for their prime-time game against the Steelers. Lawrence was placed on injured reserve this week with a foot sprain, while Parsons has a high ankle sprain.

Cooks caught four passes for 40 yards in the team's season-opening win over the Cleveland Browns but failed to crack 20 yards in the following three games. He caught one of his four targets against the Giants for 16 yards.

Jalen Tolbert is likely to receive more targets with Cooks sidelined. Tolbert is second on the team in receiving yards with 160.