Saints lose Brandin Cooks and Rafael Bush to injury

The New Orleans Saints lost more than just a game on Sunday when they were thumped 27-10 at home by the Cincinnati Bengals. They lost a key player on both sides of the ball as well.

The worst injury was to starting safety Rafael Bush, who was carted off the field after fracturing his tibia in the fourth quarter, and he'll likely be placed on injured reserve at some point this week. Bush's backup, rookie Vinnie Sunseri, suffered a season-ending fractured arm last week.

As for rookie wide receiver Brandin Cooks, it was revealed after the game that he'd suffered some kind of hand injury, and it looks like it's a broken thumb that will cost him significant time.

(2 of 2) Cooks suffered a broken thumb & could miss as many as 2-4 games. Saints injury list is getting long & worrisome. Time for next up!

— HowellOnCST (@HowellOnCST) November 17, 2014

Cooks caught five passes for 50 yards, rushed once for five yards and returned one punt for four yards during Sunday's game. In 10 games this year, the former Oregon State Beaver caught 53 passes for 550 yards and three scores. Cooks added 73 rushing yards and once score on seven carries. He was drafted 20th overall in this year's NFL draft, four spots ahead of the Bengals, who were also interested in Cooks.

New Orleans' next game comes on Monday Night Football in Week 12, where they'll host the Baltimore Ravens with both teams looking to propel themselves onto the right side of the NFL playoff picture.