Kyle

Cook

Cook must spend at least six weeks on injured reserve. He remains without a timetable for a return. With two new guards and veteran Jeff Faine filling in at center, the Bengals’ interior pass blocking was a major issue in preseason action.

Per beat writer Joe Reedy, “indications are” that Cook will miss a “large amount of time,” a notion buoyed by the fact that the Bengals are hosting free agent C Jeff Faine for a visit on Tuesday. The Bengals’ starter since 2009, Cook graded out as a bottom-10 center by Pro Football Focus last season.

A former undrafted free agent, Cook took over as a starter full-time in 2009 and signed a four-year, $14 million extension last offseason. While Cook doesn’t get a ton of exposure, Pro Football Focus rated him as an above-average run blocker for the third straight season. He’ll look to stabilize the Bengals’ offensive line between first-round RG Kevin Zeitler and new LG Travelle Wharton.

It’s Cook’s first practice since he went down way back in August. The Bengals now have three weeks to decide whether they’ll activate him off the injured reserve with a designation to return list. Assuming he has no setbacks in practice, expect Cook to reclaim his starting center spot from rookie Trevor Robinson as soon as Week 14.

There’s not a yet a timetable for Cook’s return to the field. On the injured reserve recall list, Cook is not eligible to practice before Oct. 16 or play until Nov. 4. Former Bucs center Jeff Faine is starting in the meantime.

Faine’s roster spot was needed so the Bengals could add kicker Josh Brown. It’s a sign that Kyle Cook (ankle) will start Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. Cook opened the season on injured reserve with a designation to return.

Cook has been practicing for the last week after returning from ankle surgery that sidelined him since the preseason. Cook started every game for the Bengals from 2009-2011, but he is not expected to start in Week 14. Cincinnati waived WR Armon Binns to open a roster spot for Cook.

Cook was a 16-game starter from 2009-11, but was limited to four games by an ankle injury last season. Robinson was spotty in Cook’s place as a rookie. The Bengals could look to add another competitor in the draft or free agency.

Second-year pro Trevor Robinson was expected to push Cook in camp, but missed the entire spring with a pectoral injury. An ankle injury limited Cook to just four games last season, but Robinson was not effective in his place.

The move clears $2.5 million in salary off of Cincinnati’s books. Cook turns 31 this summer and graded out negatively both as a pass and run blocker in Pro Football Focus’ 2013 ratings. The Bengals now figure to turn to Mike Pollak at center. They recently kept Pollak on a three-year, $5 million deal.