(Photo credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)

Wide receiver Brandin Cooks' second stint with the New Orleans Saints has come to an end.

The Saints announced that they waived Cooks among a number of moves on Wednesday. They also signed Kevin Austin Jr. to the active roster and added fellow wide receiver Jha'Quan Jackson to the practice squad.

Per NewOrleans.Football, Cooks renegotiated his contract to facilitate his release. The terms of that agreement were not known, however.

'For me, personally, I just know I can play at a high level,' Cooks said following the NFL trade deadline, per The Times-Picayune and The Advocate. 'Obviously, it's been frustrating with the minimum opportunities, but all I know is to grind, all I know is to work. And hopefully get more opportunities as I continue to display that. I'm not just a guy that's a vet, that's like, 'Oh I'm good, I'm just glad to be playing football.'

'I know that fire is still there. I want to compete, go out and make plays and help my team win.'

Cooks, who played with the Saints in his first three NFL seasons, has 19 catches for 165 yards while playing in all 10 games (three starts) in 2025. He signed a two-year deal worth up to $13 million with New Orleans in March.

Cooks, 32, has totaled 729 receptions for 9,697 yards and 60 touchdowns in 168 career games (147 starts) with the Saints, New England Patriots, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys and Saints. He was selected by New Orleans with the 20th overall pick of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Austin, 25, had one target in one game this season with the Saints. He has 11 catches for 151 yards in nine career games with New Orleans.

--Field Level Media