Aaron Glenn thought he’d found a clever workaround this summer. The Jets’ head coach scooped up undrafted rookie Brady Cook in May, a gritty, battle-tested Missouri product who could give them a developmental arm and, in the short term, some much-needed practice depth. Cook wasn’t just a camp body. He had 9,008 collegiate passing yards, 49 touchdowns, and a reputation for playing hurt. In a room where Tyrod Taylor was already dealing with a knee procedure. And Justin Fields‘ dislocated toe, they viewed his durability as a bonus.
Now, that bonus is sitting in a golf cart, and somehow, also back on the field. The joint practice with the Giants on August 12 ended with Cook being carted off, per Dan Leberfeld of Jets Whispers. The injury? An ankle, the same area that nagged him all last season at Missouri, slowing an offense that still managed a 10–2 record and a Cotton Bowl win.
And yet, less than 24 hours later, ESPN’s Rich Cimini noted Cook was back out there, “No sign of Quinnen Williams (calf) and Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) in the warmups. QB Brady Cook (ankle), who limped off yesterday, is practicing.” That’s either a sign of remarkable toughness or a gamble on borrowed time.
No sign of Quinnen Williams (calf) and Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) in the warmups. QB Brady Cook (ankle), who limped off yesterday, is practicing. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) August 13, 2025
Cook’s journey to Florham Park was already one of resilience. The Jets quickly signed after he went undrafted in the draft. Justin Fields as QB1, Taylor as the veteran backup, and Cook fighting for a practice squad spot. With Taylor now out for the entire preseason, this was Cook’s golden window to flash. His college tape is littered with moments of stubborn brilliance, the Auburn comeback on one good leg, the 411-yard shootout vs. LSU, the SEC record for most consecutive passes without an interception. That’s the resume of a guy who can survive chaos.
But chaos isn’t the same as stability. As Sports Illustrated’s Michael Stamps noted, Cook’s ankle issues in 2024–25 were more than just a nuisance. They reshaped Missouri’s playcalling and forced him to gut out drives that most QBs would’ve surrendered to the backup. If history repeats, the Jets’ QB room, already stripped to Fields and UFL MVP Adrian Martinez, is one more injury away from signing someone who was home watching Netflix last week.
And that’s the knife’s edge Glenn is on.
Aaron Glenn misses his QB2
Justin Fields didn’t just lose his backup quarterback. He lost the one guy on the Jets roster who could walk into a hostile stadium and still give them a fighting chance. Adrian Martinez and Brady Cook have upside. Martinez tore up the UFL with the Birmingham Stallions, Cook flashed in the preseason opener against Green Bay. But between them, they have zero NFL starts. Taylor had 94 games of lived experience ready to deploy.
Now, that safety net is tangled in yet another injury layover. Taylor has been dealing with a nagging knee issue all summer. “It has been bothering me for some time, and after further evaluation, surgery was needed to fix the issue,” he admitted. He’s already ruled out for the rest of the preseason. Week 1 against Pittsburgh? Still a question mark.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Taylor’s procedure was “a minor scope.” But wouldn’t commit to a timeline for the opener. “We’ll see exactly where he is in the next couple of weeks,” Glenn said after Tuesday’s practice. “I don’t think he will be playing in the preseason, but hopefully he will be ready for Week 1.” And here’s the part people miss, Taylor isn’t just a sub in case Fields goes down. The guy Fields admitted “pitches in ideas” when the defense shows a tricky look. That’s not theory, that’s 14 years of doing it in different teams.
Right now, the Jets’ insurance policy looks paper-thin. Adrian Martinez, a practice-squad holdover. Brady Cook, undrafted, who limped off Tuesday after someone stepped on his ankle. Aaron Glenn says it’s nothing. But after last year’s four-snap Rodgers nightmare, fans aren’t exactly in the mood for “nothing” reassurances.
Taylor’s career has been about balance, enough highs to keep him in the league, enough hits to make you wonder how he’s still in it.
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