KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A familiar face returned Thursday as the Chiefs tweaked the practice squad for a second straight day.
Aug. 18, 2015; St. Joseph, MO; Wide receiver Kenny Cook (6) catches a pass during Chiefs training camp at Missouri Western State University. (Emily DeShazer/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
The Chiefs signed rookie wide receiver Kenny Cook to the practice squad, while releasing wide receiver Fred Williams to make room.
The 6-4, 218-pound Cook originally joined the Chiefs on May 11 as an undrafted free agent out of Gardner-Webb. He enjoyed an accomplished collegiate career as the third-leading receiver in school history with 188 catches and was honored as a first-team All-Big South Conference selection.
Cook spent time with the Chiefs in training camp before being waived on Aug. 30 as part of the initial cuts to reach a 75-man roster.
“I was disappointed,” Cook said. “You want to stay around. You get cut, that’s a disappointment. But when I left, they told me I had a chance to come back to the practice squad. I just kept hope alive; I just kept faith in God and prayed on it.”
Cook, a native of Cross Hill, S.C., said he stayed in shape the past month, working out in South Carolina while training with TNT Sports and waiting for the call.
And now that he has returned, Cook looks forward to making the most of the opportunity.
“I was just happy,” he said. “Blessed I got a second opportunity, so I got to take advantage of it.”
The 6-0, 190-pound Williams, who first joined the Chiefs practice squad late in 2013, became a fan favorite the past summer after leading the Chiefs with 15 catches for 167 yards and three touchdowns in four preseason games.
The Chiefs current 10-man practice squad consists of Cook, rookie linebacker Tyrell Adams, rookie wide receiver Da’Ron Brown, defensive tackle Hebron Fangupo, rookie offensive lineman Laurence Gibson, cornerback Jeremy Harris, rookie center Daniel Munyer, offensive lineman Jarrod Pughsley, fullback Spencer Ware and defensive lineman Jimmy Staten.
Staten signed with the Chiefs on Wednesday.
———-
Herbie Teope is the lead Chiefs beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and The Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @HerbieTeope.
———-
