With the NFL and NFL Players Association agreeing Thursday to bring one player back to the active roster from injured reserve during the 2012 regular season, with some restrictions, that Bengals player could very well be center Kyle Cook.
Bylaw proposal No. 6A permits clubs to reactivate one player from Reserve/Injured during the 2012 season. Since this rule is being adopted after the cutdown to 75 players, for 2012 only, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to a transition procedure that permits clubs to return to their 53-player active list one player placed on Reserve/Injured since the start of preseason training camp. This selection of that player must be made no later than 9 p.m. ET, Friday, August 31.
The Bengals don't look to have a player that fits that category. They have five players on injured reserve but those players look like they're going to stay there.
But following Friday's cutdown to 53 players, the new Reserve/Injured rule will work as follows and that may help in Cook's case.
Only players with a "major injury" who are placed on Reserve/Injured after 4 p.m., New York time, on Tuesday, Sept. 4, or thereafter during the season, will be eligible to be reactivated at a later time.
A "major injury" is defined as an injury that renders the player unable to practice or play football for at least six weeks (42 calendar days) from the date of injury.
Each team may reactivate only one player placed on Reserve/Injured after 4 p.m., New York time, on Tuesday, Sept. 4. That player must be "designated for return" at the time the club places him on Reserve/Injured, and such designation shall appear on that day's Personnel Notice.
Such player is eligible to return to practice if he has been on Reserve/Injured for at least six weeks from the date he is placed on Reserve. He is eligible to return to the Active List if he has been on Reserve/Injured for at least eight weeks from the date he is placed on Reserve.
With Cook maybe looking at an ankle injury of eight to 12 weeks, that may fit right in.
