Cook tallied four receptions on seven targets for 80 yards in Sunday's 35-32 overtime loss to the Raiders. The veteran finished the 2021 campaign with 48 receptions for 564 yards and four touchdowns.
Analysis: It's hard to say Cook disappointed in his first season with the Chargers considering the veteran posted more receptions, receiving yards and 20-plus yard catches than his final year with the Saints, but he averaged only 11.8 yards per catch which marked a career low as a starter. Still, the 34-year-old was more or less able to fill the massive vacuum left by Hunter Henry and unlike the former stalwart tight end, Cook managed to play in all but one game throughout the 2021 season. It'll be interesting to see what the Chargers opt to do at tight end next season. Donald Parham quietly emerged as a capable red-zone threat this year and was beginning to pick up steam as a reliable pass catcher before suffering a freak head injury in Week 15, ending his season. It's possible Parham could step into the starting role if healthy leaving Cook, who signed a one-year deal with the Chargers this offseason, looking for another team to extend his career.
Jan 13, 2022 7:08 AM EST
Cook (illness) has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, per Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston and Daniel Popper of The Athletic.
Analysis: Cook is thus set to return to action Sunday against the Raiders after missing the Chargers' Week 17 win over the Broncos, a game in which Tre' McKitty and Stephen Anderson handled the bulk of the team's tight end duties. Through 15 games to date, Cook is averaging 2.9 catches (on 5.1 targets) for 32.3 receiving yards to go along with four TDs, numbers that give him a degree of fantasy utility in most formats.
Jan 5, 2022 2:31 PM EST
Coach Brandon Staley relayed Wednesday that Cook (illness) is in line to come off the the reserve/COVID-19 list, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Analysis: An official transaction confirming as much is thus looming, which sets the stage for the tight end to return to action Sunday against the Raiders after giving way to Tre' McKitty and Stephen Anderson in the Chargers' Week 17 win over the Broncos.
Jan 5, 2022 12:13 PM EST
Cook (illness) remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Sunday's game against Broncos, Gilbert Manzano of The Orange County Register reports.
Analysis: Until Cook clears the NFL's COVID protocols, the Chargers will rely on Stephen Anderson, Tre' McKitty and Hunter Kampmoyer to handle the team's tight end duties, with Cook's top backup for most of the season, Donald Parham (concussion), on injured reserve.
Jan 1, 2022 1:25 PM EST
Cook isn't expected to play Sunday against the Broncos after the Chargers placed him on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday following a positive test for the virus, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Even if vaccinated, Cook will have a minimal chance to clear the NFL's COVID-19 return-to-play protocol before Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff, so the Chargers and fantasy managers alike should proceed as though he won't be available Week 17. He's one of 10 members of Los Angeles' 53-man roster that is on the list as Sunday's game approaches, though the Chargers at least received some reinforcement for the passing attack when wideouts Mike Williams and Jalen Guyton were restored from the list earlier this week. With Cook's top backup for most of the season, Donald Parham (concussion), on injured reserve, the Chargers will likely turn to Stephen Anderson and Tre' McKitty to pick up the snaps at tight end this weekend.
Dec 31, 2021 1:51 PM EST
Cooks (undisclosed) is in line to land on the reserve/COVID-19 list, per Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times.
Analysis: Once the move is made official, Cook will be unavailable to play until he clears the NFL's COVID protocols. Heading into Sunday's game against the Broncos, Stephen Anderson and Tre' McKitty are the Chargers' top available tight ends.
Dec 31, 2021 12:45 PM EST
Cook caught three of five targets for 44 yards during Sunday's 41-29 loss to the Texans. He also secured a successful two-point conversion.
Analysis: It was another modest showing from Cook, who hasn't exceeded three receptions or 45 receiving yards since Week 9. Overall he has 44 catches for 484 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games this season, making his fantasy outlook mostly dependent on reaching the end zone.
Dec 28, 2021 6:33 PM EST
Cook recorded three receptions (on seven targets) and 32 yards in Thursday's 34-28 overtime loss to the Chiefs.
Analysis: Cook saw a slight bump in playing time after Donald Parham left early in the game with a serious head injury, but the extra snaps didn't amount to much. The veteran tight end had a serious blunder mid-way through the second quarter, comically failing to bring in an easy short-yardage bubble screen on fourth-and-one which surely would have scored a touchdown. It's been that kind of season for the 34-year-old who is currently on pace for five-year lows in both receiving yards and touchdowns despite a healthy 71 targets to date.
Dec 17, 2021 7:13 AM EST
Cook (quad) doesn't carry an injury designation for Thursday night's game against Kansas City.
Analysis: The same applies to fellow tight end Donald Parham, with the duo both being listed as full participants on Wednesday's practice report. While logging 31 of a possible 71 snaps on offense in this past Sunday's win over the Giants, Cook caught two of his five targets for eight yards and a TD. Through 13 contests overall, he's averaging 2.9 catches (on 4.9 targets) for 31.4 yards to go along with four receiving scores, numbers that give him a degree of fantasy utility in deeper formats.
Dec 15, 2021 3:09 PM EST
Cook (quadriceps) was listed as a limited participant at Tuesday's walkthrough.
Analysis: Cook was estimated to have no activity if the Chargers had held practice Monday, so his return in some capacity one day later generally is a good sign as the team prepares to take on the AFC West-leading Chiefs on Thursday. The same can be said for Donald Parham (heel) -- DNP on Monday, LP on Tuesday -- meaning L.A. is closing in on having its top two tight ends available for Week 15 action.
Dec 14, 2021 3:17 PM EST
Cook (quad) was listed as a non-participant on Monday's practice estimate.
Analysis: Cook logged 31of a possible 71 snaps on offense in in Sunday's win over the Giants and in the process caught two of his five targets for eight yards and a (one yard) TD. Fellow tight end Donald Parham (knee) also logged a listed 'DNP' on Monday, so the duo's status is worth tracking as Thursday night's game against Kansas City approaches.
Dec 13, 2021 3:39 PM EST
Cook caught two passes for eight yards and one touchdown on five targets against the Giants on Sunday.
Analysis: The touchdown provided a modicum of respectability to Cook's box score, but it's mostly another inefficient showing from Cook, who is at once an aged veteran and an inconsistent technician. Rather than Cook stepping up in the absence of lead target Keenan Allen (Covid), it was WR3 Jalen Guyton and rookie Josh Palmer who stepped up in the Chargers' pass-catching rotation. Cook should remain the Chargers' TE1 through the rest of the year, but understudies Donald Parham and Stephen Anderson might play more snaps than most backup tight ends, and at Cook's expense.
Dec 12, 2021 4:51 PM EST
Cook caught three of four targets for 29 yards during Sunday's 41-22 win over the Bengals.
Analysis: Cook was limited to his fourth straight game with under 30 receiving yards and has managed only three above that threshold all season. The Chargers have relied on Austin Ekeler and other options to cover goal-line opportunities instead of forcing the ball to Cook which has hampered his fantasy value significantly. Drops have also been an issue for Cook all season (61 percent catch rate), and as a result, the younger backup Donald Parham has seen additional usage. With a low receiving floor, and a decreasing share of red-zone targets, Cook remains a touchdown-dependent, low-upside option at tight end.
Dec 7, 2021 7:44 AM EST
Cook snared two of his five targets for 25 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 28-13 loss to the Broncos.
Analysis: Sunday marked Cook's first touchdown since Week 6 and just his second red-zone target over that stretch as the Chargers have largely utilized Donald Parham and Austin Ekeler near the goal line. The long-time veteran has been a safety net at times for quarterback Justin Herbert, but his meager targets week to week limit make for inconsistent fantasy value.
Nov 28, 2021 6:34 PM EST
Cook caught three of his five targets for 28 yards in Sunday's 41-37 win over the Steelers.
Analysis: As the veteran tight end continues to age, his fantasy production has significantly decreased. Cook has yet to record more than 70 yards receiving in a game this season and he's been limited to only two touchdowns. The 34-year-old was only on the field for 50 percent of snaps as the young tight end Donald Parham continues to see more usage. With the amount of offensive weapons on the Chargers, Cook's fantasy value certainly seems to fluctuate week to week.
Nov 23, 2021 1:03 PM EST
Cook caught one of three targets for 10 yards during Sunday's 27-20 loss against the Vikings.
Analysis: Cook recorded season lows in targets and receiving yards as Justin Herbert struggled to move the ball against the Minnesota secondary. Cook has functioned as an experienced tight end option for Herbert, but has struggled with drops (only a 62.2 percent catch rate on the year). Moving forward, Cook figures to remain an unreliable fantasy tight end who is stuck behind a number of other pass catchers.
Nov 16, 2021 7:47 AM EST
Cook caught all four of his targets for 48 yards in Sunday's 27-24 win over the Eagles. He also caught a two-point conversion.
Analysis: The veteran tight end saw the entirety of his work come in the first half as the Chargers leaned heavily on Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler to salt away the win. While Cook hasn't seen a substantial workload he has turned into a comfortable target for Justin Herbert when he's been called upon. That hasn't translated into red-zone looks, but it's put the 34-year-old on pace to surpass Cook's figures during his final season with the Saints.
Nov 8, 2021 3:20 PM EST
Cook totaled two receptions for 25 yards on five targets during Sunday's 27-24 loss against the Patriots.
Analysis: Cook struggled against the Patriots and managed to only command five targets from quarterback Justin Herbert. Cook was left out of the mix as Herbert primarily relied on Keenan Allen and Austin Ekeler to move the ball. Late in the fourth quarter Cook was also the intended receiver on a pass which was picked off and returned for a touchdown on an obvious route miscommunication. Next week Cook will face an Eagles defense which has had its struggles defending tight ends, allowing the third-most fantasy points to the position. Cook's low target share (13.5 percent on the year) in an offense that primarily utilizes established receivers Mike Williams and Allen, along with running back Ekeler, makes him a highly touchdown-dependent TE moving forward.
Nov 2, 2021 7:11 AM EST
Cook caught four of seven targets for 25 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 34-6 loss to the Ravens.
Analysis: Cook actually tied with running back Austin Ekeler for the team lead in targets, as quarterback Justin Herbert had no luck pushing the ball downfield. The veteran tight end scored all of Los Angeles' points with a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Cook totaled 16 touchdowns over the previous two seasons with the Saints and now has two heading into the Chargers' Week 7 bye.
Oct 17, 2021 2:06 PM EST
Cook caught one of three targets for 29 yards in Sunday's thrilling 47-42 win over the Browns on Sunday.
Analysis: Cook's lone catch was nearly a big one as the veteran tight end almost had the go-ahead score only to be tripped up near the goal line. Positional teammate Donald Parham actually recorded more catches (two) and yards (29), but the 6-foot-8 tight end was primarily utilized as a red zone threat whereas Cook was the option between the 20s. Its certainly frustrating to see the 34-year-old essentially held in check despite a barrage of points, but given the offensive volume on a week-to-week basis Cook still represents an intriguing fantasy option, albeit one with a low floor.
Oct 10, 2021 7:05 PM EST
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