Brady Cook's NFL odyssey will continue, for at least another week, when he directs the offense as the starter for the second straight week when the Jets head to the Big Easy to face the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on Sunday.
HC Aaron Glenn on Wednesday he announced that the undrafted free agent QB out of Missouri was his choice for the Week 16 matchup. His backup -- either Tyrod Taylor or Justin Fields -- will be determined later this week.
"It's an opportunity for me to lead this team once again and try to go get a win on the road," Cook said on Wednesday. "And it's really as simple as that. It's about this week, preparing this week and playing on Sunday in New Orleans. That's how I'm looking at it.
"It's building from Miami [when he replaced an injured Taylor in Week 15, trailing the Dolphins by 21-0], building from last week, taking all those reps with me into this week, and in practicing, fixing what I need to fix, and then going out there on Sunday and playing."
With Taylor (groin) and Fields (knee) injured, Cook started his first NFL game last week at Jacksonville, with his parents in the stands at EverBank Field. He started the game 6-of-6 passing, leading the Jets to a TD on their second possession as he connected with WR Adonai Mitchell for the first scoring toss of his NFL career. Cook targeted Mitchell 9 times, completing 6 attempts for 58 yards with a long of 21.
"Since that Miami game, we watch film together," Cook said. "We're always getting extra up together, and it's something he loves to do. He wants to do it. It's not like I'm dragging him along to go do extra. He's right there with me and the chemistry is building."
As the Jets again found themselves trying to erase the opposition's lead, Cook threw a trio of interceptions and now has 5 through his 3 appearances.
Asked if the INTs were physical or mental mistakes he said: "Maybe a little bit of both."
He added: "Especially that second interception down in the red zone. I think just throw the ball away. Throw the ball away there. Obviously don't try to force anything"
Both the Saints (4-10) and the Jets (3-11) are giving some of their younger players an opportunity to show their worth, looking ahead to the 2026 season but also hellbent on finishing the current season on an up note. Coincidentally, the Saints are also going with a rookie QB in Tyler Shough, who has led his team to consecutive wins over NFC South opponents. While Shough was a second-round pick (No. 40 overall) of the Saints, Cook joined the Jets as a UDFA in May.
"We spent a week at a Combine together, so talking ball, obviously going through the combine process together," Cook said. "Great player, great guy, excited to face him this weekend."
