Packers TE Jared Cook underwent what the team is calling "preventative" foot surgery earlier this week, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.  Cook will miss the rest of the offseason program, but the "hope" is that he'll be ready for the start of training camp.  Any missed time is bad news for a guy learning a new offense.  We'll see when Cook is able to get back on the field and then how TE targets and divvied between him and Richard Rodgers.

The Packers are "set to sign" TE Jared Cook, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.  Interestingly, Rapoport adds that it was Green Bay's "big area of need."  Richard Rodgers finished 11th among TEs in PPR points last year, but that was largely due to his 8 TDs.  He averaged just 8.8 yards per catch as a purely short-range target.  Cook brings more athleticism to the Packers' TE group.  Despite a mostly disappointing career thus far, he's still only 28 (until April 7) and has averaged 12.8 yards per catch through 7 seasons.  We've been burned by Cook too many times to trust him in fantasy, but the landing spot could at least make him a spot-start option.

The Rams have released TE Jared Cook.  He posted lines of 51-671-5 and 52-634-3 in his first 2 seasons with St. Louis but mustered just 39 grabs for 481 scoreless yards this past year.  Cook didn't post a single top-12 PPR week for fantasy owners.  He's turning only 29 in April but isn't a great bet to re-emerge as a fantasy asset.  We'll see where he lands.

Rams TE Lance Kendricks left in the 3rd quarter of today's game against the Cardinals for concussion testing. He hasn't been a fantasy factor when healthy, and the Rams' terrible pass offense can't do enough for a potential Kendricks absence to make TE Jared Cook attractive in fantasy.

Update: Kendricks has been diagnosed with a concussion.

Rams TE Jared Cook (back) is active for today’s game against the Chargers. We haven’t heard that the back will be an issue, but Cook is still a weak fantasy play. He’s topped 25 yards in just 1 of his past 5 games, and San Diego ranks 4^th in fantasy points allowed to TEs.

Rams TE Jared Cook (back) was limited in practice this week and is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Chargers. We haven’t heard any indication that he’s in danger of sitting out, but the back issue only makes him a shakier fantasy play. Cook has topped 25 yards in just 1 of his past 5 games.

Rams TE Lance Kendricks returned to practice Wednesday.  He sat out the Week 10 contest with a fractured finger before last week's bye.  HC Jeff Fisher indicated, however, that the TE should play against Chicago on Sunday.  "It’s not an issue blocking," Fisher said, per ESPN.com. "He’s made some catches, so yeah I’m sure he’ll be fine."  Kendricks isn't much of a fantasy option and could also cut into the already-uninspiring value of TE Jared Cook.

Rams TE Lance Kendricks (finger) didn't practice all week and is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Colts.  His absence should mean a few extra targets for TE Jared Cook.

Rams TE Lance Kendricks fractured a finger in Sunday's loss to the Titans.  The team's not yet sure whether it'll cost him any games.  "We're just doing some tests right now to see what the best way to go about to either cast it or repair it," HC Jeff Fisher told ESPN.com.  "There's a chance that he may miss some time. How much, I don't know." Kendricks is a fringe fantasy option in deep leagues at best.  No huge loss if he sits out.  And actually, his absence could help push a couple more targets Jared Cook's way.

"I have not seen a better offensive weapon in all the practices I’ve seen on this training camp tour than I saw in the athletic and imposing [Jared] Cook."  That's from Sports Illustrated's Peter King, the latest insider to tout the Rams TE.  Cook has been a standout in training camp, quickly emerging as one of QB Sam Bradford's favorite targets.  Cook has always been an elite talent.  He might finally be ready to turn that into elite fantasy production.  We like his odds of finishing as a top-10 TE this season, making Cook a prime target at his current 9th-round ADP.

Rams insider Joe Lyons thinks QB Sam Bradford is "primed for a big season."  After watching a little over a week of training camp, Lyons sees the Rams offense looking to "spread the field with the short- and medium-range passing game."  There are plenty of weapons here with Tavon Austin, Chris Givens and Jared Cook.  And Bradford looks "much more comfortable" in his 2nd season with OC Brian Schottenheimer, per Lyons.  We also talked to Lyons about Tavon Austin, Jared Cook, Brian Quick and the Rams backfield.  Click here to check out the entire interview.

The prevailing wisdom most of the offseason was that rookie WR Tavon Austin would take over WR Danny Amendola's role in St. Louis.  But 2 different insiders have recently suggested that it'll instead be TE Jared Cook.  QB Sam Bradford and Cook have "already connected endlessly in camp, making one believe he'll serve as Bradford's security blanket like Danny Amendola was in 2012," writes NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.  Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch concurs.  "Although Cook is listed as a tight end, it almost feels as if he’s taken over Amendola’s slot position in the offense," Burwell writes.  It sounds like Cook is in store for a boatload of targets this season.  He should zoom by his career high of 49 catches. There's clear top-10 fantasy upside here.

CB Cortland Finnegan conceded to The Tennessean that he was skeptical when the Rams signed TE Jared Cook this offseason.  "But when he got there, he’s been tearing it up like I’ve never seen," Finnegan added.  "He’s comfortable, he’s back where he wants to be and I’m excited to have him."  Finnegan played for the Titans through Cook's 1st 3 years in the league before joining HC Jeff Fisher in St. Louis last offseason.  He's also not one to hold back his words.  So his praise for Cook carries some weight.  We certainly still believe in the upside on the athletic pass-catcher, and he found plenty of interest on the open market after the Titans let him walk.  Click here to see where Cook sits in our 2013 fantasy football rankings.

Rams beat writer Joe Lyons notes that QB Sam Bradford and TE Jared Cook "seem to be clicking" in OTAs.  That doesn't mean a whole lot in pad-less practices in May, but it's better than hearing the opposite.  Cook's understanding of the offense and chemistry with Bradford are his 2 biggest issues heading into 2013.  The guy is plenty talented.  And Lyons confirms that Cook will be a "huge part" of the Rams' offense.  There's top 8 upside here.

CBS’ Jason La Canfora expects Rams TE Jared Cook to assume the role of departed WR Danny Amendola. Cook can push a defense vertically, and he’ll also provide relief as a safety valve. At 6’5, 250 pounds, Sam Bradford has a capable TE for the first time in his career. Tavon Austin might enter September as the favorite to lead the team in targets. But Cook’s raw talent and increased workload will still carry top-8 upside.

Adam Caplan reports that the Rams have signed TE Jared Cook after all. (That news comes after a Jason La Canfora imposter "broke" the news on Twitter earlier in the afternoon.) Cook adds speed to the interior of the Rams' passing game, which could present a dangerous combo with 2nd-year WR Chris Givens. Cook had trouble learning the offense over 4 years in Tennessee, though. He also displayed inconsistent hands. Of course, Rams HC Jeff Fisher originally drafted Cook there. So he knows what he's getting. The talent boost can only help QB Sam Bradford, but the team still needs a reliable target to convert 3rd downs. TE Lance Kendricks is now staring at a much lower ceiling. He kinda brought that on himself, though, with a pair of uninspiring seasons to begin his career. Cook still looks like a fringe starting option in fantasy football leagues. His best shot at a value boost might be to claim the mantle of primary red-zone option for Bradford.

The Titans will NOT use the franchise tag on TE Jared Cook.  They were set to tag him just a couple weeks ago, but Cook's threat to argue that he's a WR (thus increasing the tag number from $6 million to $10.5 million) seems to have scared the franchise off.  Cook now becomes one of the more intriguing names on the open market.  He's fallen short of lofty expectations the past couple years, but a lot of that has to do with his inconsistent role in Tennessee's passing game.  At 6'5 and 248 pounds with WR-like athleticism, Cook carries a sky-high statistical ceiling.  We'll see where he lands now.  The Titans are still interested in bringing him back, but teams like the Dolphins and Bears figure to show plenty of interest.

Titans TE Jared Cook isn’t too thrilled about the idea of being slapped with the franchise tag. But if he is forced to stick around, he wants to be classified as a WR. Cook would make more than $4 million more in salary if that became a reality. We saw Jermichael Finley try to pull this stunt last year, but he ended up signing a new 2-year deal. Ultimately, we still expect Cook to remain in Tennessee.