GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers tight end Jared Cook, the team's biggest offseason acquisition this year, underwent foot surgery this week and will miss the rest of the offseason program, multiple sources told ESPN.
The Packers hope that Cook will be back for training camp next month. The surgery was described as "preventative" and something that both Cook and the team wanted to take care of now so that it didn't linger into the regular season.
Cook was not at practice on Thursday when reporters were allowed to watch for the second time during organized team activities, and coach Mike McCarthy does not provide updates on injuries or attendance during voluntary sessions. Cook had participated in OTA practices the first week.
The Packers gave Cook a one-year, $2.75 million contract after the Los Angeles Rams cut him in February.
Despite Cook's down season in 2015 -- when he caught 39 passes, his fewest since 2010 -- the Packers have big plans for Cook in their offense.
McCarthy said earlier this offseason that his offense needed to find someone, whether it was a big tight end or a big receiver, who can get open down the middle of the field. The 6-foot-5 Cook was that addition.
"Big target -- very, very athletic," McCarthy said last week after the first open OTA practice. "If you're just talking purely throwing the football and you've got big targets that can move like he does -- he's been an excellent addition. He's been everything we thought he would be."
Cook has a career average of 12.8 yards per catch. The Packers' No. 1 tight end last season, Richard Rodgers, averaged just 8.8 yards per catch.
"Jared is able to stretch the field a little bit with his little bit [of] extra speed," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said last week. "I'm excited to get him up and going and get to these installs and see what he can do even more."
