Nearly four months after suffering a high ankle sprain, starting center Kyle Cook told reporters on Wednesday that he's back. Cook suffered the injury during the preseason against the Green Bay Packers, eventually placed on Injured Reserve with a designation to return later during the season.

Once he returns to officially practice, he'll be taken off IR with a four-week roster exemption until he's activated on the 53-man roster. Many suspect that former starting center Jeff Faine could be the casualty, either placed on IR with a hamstring or outright released. Rookie Trevor Robinson replaced him earlier this month.

We're not expecting Cook to return this Sunday against the San Diego Chargers, undoubtedly needing time to get into football shape and all of that jazz. And with the play of Robinson this year, it's lessened the urgency to get him back onto the field.

The Bengals play the Cowboys after the Chargers, then the Eagles on Thursday Night football in mid-December.