David Culley is glad Brandin Cooks is a Texan.
The team leader in receiving yards (1,150), catches (81) and targets (119) a year ago, was back at the Houston Methodist Training Center this week for Organized Team Activities (OTAs). It's his second year with Houston, and his eighth in the NFL. Cooks has cracked the 1,000-yard mark in receiving yards six of those seasons, and he's played in a variety of offenses across four different franchises in that span.
"He's a pro's pro," the head coach said of Cooks. "He's been in this league for a little while. He's had success in this league. He's a leader. He's exactly what our football team needs moving forward. Looking forward to him not only being the kind of player that he's been before, but even being better."
Cooks is enthusiastic about growing in the offense, which is helmed by coordinator Tim Kelly.
"I love it," Cooks said. "Just continue to trust the process with the things that T.K. and the guys are coming up with and execute to the best of our ability."
Cooks made an impact in 2020 despite learning a new offense, during a pandemic. He described what he learned most from the experience.
"You really got to be honed in to your schedule, your workout routine and when you're on your own, trying to build up to that football tolerance so when you do get in the building, it's not a shock to your body," Cooks said. "I think guys, including myself, kind of did a little wrong last year. So now knowing that, hopefully I skipped that and I am able to do what I do best right off the bat."
If that's the case, Culley said the younger receivers in the group like rookie Nico Collins and second-year pro Isaiah Coulter will "learn how to do things quickly" because of Cooks' influence.
Culley, Cooks and the Texans will start Week 2 of OTAs on Tuesday at the Houston Methodist Training Center.
