Brady Cook injury update: Eli Drinkwitz explains cautious approach, timeline for return

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook entered the Alabama game with an ankle injury and left it with a hand/wrist problem. Combine both injuries and Cook watched most of the contest from the sideline, cheering on Drew Pyne. Thankfully, the Tigers have a bye week before facing Oklahoma on Nov. 9, giving him an opportunity to rest up.

Even so, Eli Drinkwtiz is being careful with how Cook is brought back. Drinkwitz was asked if Cook would be out for the rest of the season but said the quarterback should be at Wednesday’s practice and should be back at some point.

“Brady has been in here every day, getting treatment,” Drinkwitz said during the SEC Coaches Teleconference. “Absolutely expect him back this season. Right now, I have no update that would tell me I don’t expect him for today’s practice.”

When asked which specific injury is nagging Cook at the moment, Drinkwitz says it’s the whole body. Missouri has been through a challenging schedule to this point of the season and seemingly is using the break to fully recover.

“Whole body,” Drinkwitz said. “Mentally, physically. Everything has been beat up for eight weeks of the season. So we’re focused in on trying to treat the whole body and getting getting healthy. Spirit, soul, mind, body. All of it.”

Cook attempted 12 passes against Alabama, completing seven of them for just 30 yards. Missouri’s offense struggled to get things going and the same continued when Pyne entered. Being without starting running back Nate Noel certainly did not help either.

The hope is to get back to full strength before the final four-game stretch of the regular season. Cook will certainly be the biggest storyline, no matter which injury is bother him, as the fifth-year player is hoping to end his college career on a positive note.