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Packers stand pat at tight end, hope Jared Cook returns sooner

The Packers hope to have Jared Cook back on the field later this month. Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers plan to stand pat with Richard Rodgers and Justin Perillo at tight end -- for now -- with the hope that Jared Cook will return on the early end of the 4-to-6-week window that’s being projected for his ankle injury.

“That’s the plan as I stand here today,” coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday.

Cook sprained his right ankle in Sept. 25 game against the Detroit Lions. During last week’s bye, the Packers consulted noted foot/ankle specialist Dr. Bob Anderson, who performed last year’s surgery on Packers receiver Ty Montgomery, and confirmed that Cook should be able to return without surgery.

McCarthy’s comments came on the heels of Kellen Winslow Jr. telling TMZ Sports that he hopes the Packers will sign him. The Packers worked out Winslow in August near where the former first-round pick had been training in San Diego. Their West Coast-area scout, Sam Seale, put Winslow through a series of drills.

Winslow last played in the NFL in 2013 with the New York Jets. He had 31 catches, including two touchdowns, in 12 games. He missed four games that season because of a suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He also was arrested that year for possession of synthetic marijuana. In the police report he was accused of lewd conduct, but no such charges were filed.

Winslow, 33, had his best season with the Cleveland Browns in 2007, when he caught 82 passes for 1,106 yards and five touchdowns. That came three years after he suffered a broken leg early in his rookie season of 2004 and missed all of 2005.

It's possible the Packers could revisit Winslow should their situation change before Cook's expected return.

The Packers worked out two tight ends on Tuesday – veteran Rob Housler, a former third-round pick, and rookie J.P. Holtz – but did not make a roster move before Wednesday’s practice. They have one tight end, rookie Devon Cajuste, on their practice squad.