Brady Cook injury update: Missouri QB's status revealed for second half vs. Alabama

Brady Cook has been ruled out for the second half of Saturday’s game against Alabama, Missouri announced at the end of halftime. He is dealing with an upper body injury, meaning Drew Pyne will take over for the remainder of the game.

Cook headed to the locker room late in the second quarter after injuring his throwing hand early in the game. That came as he played through an ankle injury that could’ve kept him out of Saturday’s matchup. Although he didn’t practice this week, Cook got the start as Missouri tried to keep pace in the SEC.

When Cook left the field, he headed to the Crimson Tide’s locker room for X-Rays, ABC’s Katie George reported. Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz didn’t confirm a diagnosis, but said the injury was enough to keep his quarterback out of the game.

“I just spoke with Eli Drinkwitz. He told me Brady Cook will not return in this game,” George said as the third quarter started. “We saw him go into Alabama’s locker room in the second quarter. He went into their locker room because they have an X-Ray machine. They took some pictures of that right throwing hand. I asked Drinkwitz, how severe is the hand injury? He said, severe enough for him to be ruled out. This is Drew Pyne’s game.”

Cook later returned to the sidelines in street clothes as the second half got underway. He finished the day with 30 yards on 7-of-12 passing as the Missouri offense struggled to get much going against Alabama.

Cook’s status against Alabama looked “pessimistic” earlier in the week, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported. He was listed as doubtful on Wednesday’s injury report but became questionable by Friday. Cook then jumped under center as the starting quarterback on Saturday, and Drinkwitz said the plan was to let it rip.

Cook was already dealing with an ankle injury, which led to questions about whether he would even play Saturday against Alabama. He wasn’t able to fully practice during the week, but Drinkwitz still opted to let him get the start in the Week 9 matchup.

“Due to the ankle injury, Brady Cook was unable to practice much for Missouri this week,” George said. “Now, he was able to go through walk-through on Thursday, but that was about it. So he’s been on the sideline, stretching, using the Theragun on his glutes and hamstrings.

“Worth mentioning that Eli Drinkwitz said this is the first time he’s ever played a quarterback after not practicing much in the week. But he felt like since Cook is a three-year starter, a veteran, established, that he had confidence in doing so.”