The Jets are heading into Week 15 with more questions than answers at the quarterback position - and it looks like rookie Brady Cook is about to get a serious workload in practice.
Head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed that neither Tyrod Taylor nor Justin Fields will participate in Wednesday’s session, leaving Cook as the only quarterback available on the active roster or practice squad. That means all eyes will be on the undrafted rookie as he takes the majority - if not all - of the reps in the team’s first practice of the week.
As for Sunday’s matchup against the Jaguars, Glenn hasn’t committed to a starting quarterback just yet. But with Taylor nursing a groin injury suffered in the first half of last week’s loss to the Dolphins, and Fields still sidelined by knee soreness, Cook could be in line for his first career start - a major leap for a player who, just days ago, was still waiting for his first regular season snap.
That opportunity came in emergency duty against Miami, and the results were what you might expect from a rookie thrown into the fire. Cook completed 14 of 30 passes for 163 yards and was picked off twice.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was a crash course in NFL speed, pressure, and decision-making. Now, with a full week of first-team reps potentially on the table, Cook has a chance to show how quickly he can adjust.
This isn’t just about the quarterback room, either. Glenn also announced that running back Breece Hall will sit out Wednesday’s practice due to a sore knee. That opens the door for Isaiah Davis, Kene Nwangwu, and Khalil Herbert to get increased reps in the backfield - a trio that brings a mix of power, speed, and versatility, but lacks Hall’s all-around explosiveness.
So, what does this all mean for the Jets? For now, it’s a waiting game.
Glenn and his staff will monitor Taylor and Fields throughout the week, but with both veterans sidelined for the time being, Cook is the man under center - at least for practice. Whether that carries over to Sunday remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: this is a big week for Brady Cook, and potentially a pivotal one for the Jets’ offense.