The Jets are turning to an unexpected name under center this Sunday: undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook will make his first NFL start against the Jaguars.
With both Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor sidelined due to injuries, head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed that Cook will get the nod in Week 15. “Tyrod will be out, Justin will be out,” Glenn said.
“That means Brady will be our starting quarterback this week. He’s gotten all the reps with the ones.”
Cook has quietly been grinding behind the scenes since joining the team as an undrafted free agent. Now, he steps into the spotlight, tasked with leading a struggling offense against a playoff-contending Jacksonville squad.
It’s a tall order, no doubt. But Glenn expressed confidence in the rookie’s preparation and potential.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked,” Glenn said. “He’s prepared well, he’s taken command of the huddle, and we believe in what he can become.”
Backing up Cook will be Adrian Martinez, who just signed with the team on Wednesday. He’ll serve as QB2 in what could be a chaotic afternoon for New York’s offense.
Let’s be real: this is a massive challenge for Cook. He’s walking into a tough spot-on the road, against a Jaguars team that’s been rolling, and with an offense that’s struggled to find rhythm all season.
Jacksonville enters the matchup as heavy 13.5-point favorites, and for good reason. The Jets’ offensive line has been inconsistent, the run game hasn’t been able to carry the load, and now they’re starting a rookie who’s never taken an NFL snap.
But this is also what the NFL is about. It’s a league built on opportunity-sometimes it comes in the form of a first-round pick, sometimes it’s a next-man-up moment for a guy like Cook.
He’s got the tools: a steady arm, solid poise, and a reputation for being a quick learner. What he doesn’t have yet is experience, and Sunday will be a crash course in what it takes to play quarterback at the highest level.
For the Jets, the focus won’t just be on the scoreboard-it’ll be on evaluating Cook’s command, decision-making, and how he handles adversity. If he can move the offense, protect the football, and show flashes of upside, that’s a win in the long term-even if the scoreboard doesn’t reflect it.
So while the odds are stacked against him, Brady Cook gets his shot. And in a season where the Jets have been searching for answers at quarterback, even a glimpse of potential could mean everything moving forward.