The New York Jets announced the day before their Week 14 home game against the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins that they’ve signed former Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook to their active roster.
Cook is being elevated to the active roster for the third time and will be just 1 play away from seeing action against the Dolphins on Sunday. That’s because Cook will be the Jets’ backup behind Tyrod Taylor. Cook is the beneficiary of circumstance, as previous Jets starting QB Justin Fields, who was Taylor’s backup the past 2 games, experienced knee soreness during Wednesday’s practice, then was limited on Thursday before being ruled out on Friday.
That has given Cook another chance on New York’s active roster, and if anything happens to Taylor on Sunday, Cook will get his shot.
We have signed CB Jordan Clark & QB Brady Cook to the active roster.
We’ve also elevated DB Tre Brown & DB Nik Needham.
Additionally, we’ve placed CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. & LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball on the injured reserve.
— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 6, 2025
After throwing for an astounding 9,008 yards and 49 touchdowns while rushing for 1,209 yards and 20 TDs over 5 seasons at Mizzou between 2020-2024, Cook went undrafted, leaving his potential NFL career in peril.
But Cook got a chance with the Jets this past offseason, signing with the team on May 9, and after being added to the practice squad on Aug. 27 Cook will be suiting up on Sunday at MetLife Stadium as New York’s backup quarterback.
The St. Louis native will be waiting on the sideline for that possible shot to get on the field and launch his NFL career.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.