New York Jets Name Starting Quarterback For Week 15 Game
Well, Jets fans, buckle up. We are officially entering uncharted territory. In a move that feels equal parts “why not?” and “let’s see what happens,” Head Coach Aaron Glenn dropped a bombshell: Brady Cook is your starting quarterback this Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This isn’t just a lineup change; it’s a history lesson. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, you have to go all the way back to December 1975 to find the last time the Jets started an undrafted rookie QB. That was J.J. Jones, who stepped in for an injured Joe Namath. Jones threw as many interceptions as completions that day (one of each, for the record) and was essentially never heard from in the NFL again. Let’s hope Cook’s debut goes a little smoother than that.
Why Cook Is Getting the Nod Now For the Jets
To be fair, the Jets didn’t exactly plan this. It’s more of a survival strategy. Veteran Tyrod Taylor is officially out with a groin injury he picked up early in last week’s game, and Justin Fields is still nursing a sore knee that’s kept him sidelined for two weeks.
That leaves the offense in the hands of Cook, who got his “welcome to the NFL” moment last week against the Miami Dolphins. Coming in cold off the bench is never easy, and the stat line reflected that: 14-of-30 passing, 163 yards, two picks, and zero touchdowns. He was also sacked six times.
The silver lining? He’s not going in blind this time. Cook has been taking first-team reps all week in practice. That matters. It means actually building timing with his receivers rather than introducing himself to them in the huddle mid-game.
Can the Rookie Deliver Against Jacksonville?
Jets Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand seems cautiously optimistic, noting that despite the turnovers last week, Cook showed promise in his progressions and timing. “I was really happy with, ultimately, how he performed,” Engstrand said.
Cook isn’t a total stranger to winning, having gone 26-12 as a starter at Mizzou. But the NFL is a different beast, and the Jaguars’ defense isn’t going to care about his college record.
Sunday is a massive test. Can Cook stabilize an offense that has been playing musical chairs at quarterback? Or will this be another footnote in a long season? One thing is for sure: for the first time in 50 years, an undrafted rookie is steering the ship in New York. Let’s see if he can keep it afloat.
