Rookie QB Brady Cook will make his second consecutive start for the Green & White in Week 16 on the road versus New Orleans HC Aaron Glenn announced Wednesday.
"This game, I feel like I want to continue to evaluate him and see exactly how he's going to operate on a consistent basis," Glenn said.
Glenn added that he will monitor the progress of QBs Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields, who are returning from injury, to determine who will serve as Cook's backup Sunday. TE Mason Taylor, S Tony Adams, DL Eric Watts and LB Kiko Mauigoa were ruled out for the game with injuries.
Cook, an undrafted free agent out of Missouri, has appeared in two contests for the Green & White this season. He saw his first NFL action when he took over for Taylor, who sustained a groin injury, in Week 15 against the Dolphins with the team trailing by 3 scores.
"The first game when Tyrod got hurt and we were down 21, man, that wasn't a good situation for him to be in," Glenn said.
Cook started his first NFL game against the Jaguars a week later. He led a scoring drive on the Jets' second possession, connecting with WR Adonai Mitchell for the first TD pass of his pro career. He completed his first 6 pass attempts, finishing the first quarter 6-of-6 for 51 yards, 1 TD and a 141.7 passer rating.
The Jets, however, struggled defensively and ultimately fell behind by 2 touchdowns, 24-10. Cook was intercepted late in the second quarter, and the Jets trailed by 31-10 at halftime.
"To come back to another game being down 21, man -- I want to see him in a situation where our defense, our offense and our special teams are complementing each other," Glenn said. "To see exactly how he's going to operate there."
Cook was intercepted two more times late in the fourth quarter as he attempted to will the team back into the game. He finished 22 of 33 passing for 176 yards, 1 TD and 3 INTs in the loss.
Glenn, who said he is focused on facing New Orleans, did not reveal his plan for QB beyond this week. The head coach, however, said "everything that we've seen from training camp up until this point" gives him confidence in the rookie to take the field again on Sunday.
"I think he deserves an opportunity to do it."
