Battered and bruised, the Jets (3-10) will return to action Sunday against a surging Jaguars (9-4) team in Jacksonville. With veteran QBs Tyrod Taylor (groin) and Justin Fields (knee) on the mend, rookie Brady Cook, an undrafted free agent from Missouri, could be in line for his first NFL start after handling first-team reps at practice this week.
"I think regardless of whether I was a first-round pick or undrafted, sitting right here in this situation I'd only be thinking about one thing -- beating the Jags," Cook said on Thursday. "And how are we going to do that? It's by preparing this week in practice and meetings, and I really think it's as simple as that."
Cook, promoted to the active roster last Saturday, relieved Taylor against the Dolphins after the latter left after 6 offensive snaps. When Cook entered a game huddle for the first time as a pro, his team was down, 21-0. The Jets went on to drop a 34-10 decision and will need to find their play style Sunday in Florida as the Jaguars, who lead the AFC South, target a fifth consecutive win.
"Collectively as a team, I think some of the messaging for me this week will be when true resiliency is shown, you have to be broken down" said DT Harrison Phillips.
'Heat the Young Kid Up'
If Brady Cook does get the ball in Jacksonville, he will become the Jets' third starting QB this season. The feisty Jags defense has made teams one-dimensional, leading the NFL in rush defense (82.9 yds per) and they've yet to allow an opponent to run for more than 100 yards in a game. And the Cats have pillaged, ranking tied for second both in takeaways (23) and interceptions (15). LB Devin Lloyd has 5 INTs, edge mainstay Josh Hines-Allen leads the pass rush with 7 sacks and veteran LB Foye Oluokon continues to pile up tackles.
"They're doing a hell of a job," said HC Aaron Glenn. "And it's not just the interceptions, it's the fumbles also, and they're a very, very aggressive defense. They have an attacking style that really puts a lot of pressure on the quarterback, which obviously allows for those picks to happen. And man, listen, this has been, and I don't want to say historic, but this has been one of those seasons for Lloyd. Man, he's in the right place at the right time. I've always thought he was a good player, alright, but this year, I think he's taken it to another level with the interceptions he's got and also being able to punch the ball out."
For most of the season, Cook was the show team quarterback at practice. And after going 14-of-30 passing for 163 yards with 2 INTs vs. the Dolphins, he figures to benefit from a full week of being QB1.
"He made some unbelievable throws against us in some of the carded scout team periods this season," said DT Harrison Phillips. "He's definitely a natural passer. It's been fun, he's made it difficult on our secondary this season, they can attest to it, just giving fantastic looks all season long. So, I definitely know that he can throw the football and make the right reads, and he has good energy about him, and I know the guys really care about him, which is important."
With gametime temperatures expected to be in the low 70s, the Jets have prepared for the heat DC Anthony Campanile will likely employ against the rookie QB.
OC Tanner Engstrand said: "Historically, some defensive coordinators say, 'Hey, we're going to heat the young kid up and see what he's made of.' And so, look, we're prepared for that and we're prepared for the other stuff that they've shown on tape, so we'll have whoever is ready to play, ready to play."
'Stay in Our Gap'
The Jets' defense will have to contend with a Jacksonville offense that has scored 25-plus points in six consecutive games. After a pair of stout efforts against the Patriots and the Ravens, the Jets hit a couple of detours against the Falcons and the Dolphins the past two weeks. The Jags have a workhorse back in Travis Etienne (201-917-4.6-7TD), who's closing in on his third 1,000-yard rush campaign in four seasons.
"I think it's what we've been seeing in previous weeks, just the wide zone concept, really trying to get to the perimeter," DC Steve Wilks said of the Jacksonville scheme. "Those guys do a great job upfront, the offensive line I'm talking about, as far as getting to the second level, creating edges on the defense. And that's where we got to come off the ball, strike, and stay in our gap and not allow ourselves to get reach, which is going to allow those linebackers to be able to play downhill and not have to worry about trying to two-gap things."
While QB Trevor Lawrence has played better of late and has talented targets in WRs Brian Thomas Jr. and Jakobi Myers, plus TE Brenton Strange, the Jets know they need discipline and consistency against the run to give themselves a chance.
"Just a lot of players losing their one-on-one, different players at different times in the game," Harrison Phillips said after the Jets yielded 239 yards on the ground to the Dolphins. "If you have 50 plays and you mess up 5 of them, you're grading out at 90 percent. That's a pretty damn good game. But if those five times are all 10-yard runs in your gap, it makes it very difficult."
'I'm Excited'
The Jets' final four-game stretch will include three games against likely playoff-bound opponents in the Jags, the Patriots (11-2) and the Bills (9-4). And it may start with Brady Cook, the first QB in Missouri history to throw for 9,000-plus yards, run for 1,000-plus yards and start four Bowl games. Aside from preseason action, Cook's last start came in a 27-24 Tigers win over Iowa at the Music City Bowl last December when he threw for 287 yards, 2 TDs and ran for 54 yards.
"I've been nervous before any football game I've ever played," he said. "I'm excited. It's important. This is everything I've ever done. So, there's a level of importance there that it's going to create nerves, but whenever I drag out onto the field and take that first snap, it's gone, it's not there. You're focused because you have no other choice. You really don't."
