Brady Cook’s Jets audition window has arrived earlier than expected

The New York Jets may not have planned for Brady Cook’s evaluation period to begin in Week 14, but Justin Fields’ knee injury just forced their hand. Fields has officially been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins, leaving Cook as the de facto QB2 this weekend.

Cook is expected to be elevated from the practice squad to serve as Tyrod Taylor's backup against the Dolphins. And, in all likelihood, this isn’t just going to be a one-week blip.

Because this is Cook’s third and final practice-squad elevation, the Jets now must either sign him to the 53-man roster moving forward or stop dressing him entirely.

Given Aaron Glenn’s uncertainty about Fields’ availability for Week 15, the far more logical outcome is Cook sticking on the active roster, potentially even with Fields heading to injured reserve to free a spot.

Either way, Cook is now in the spotlight earlier than anyone probably expected.

Brady Cook season has arrived early for the Jets

Cook has been a quiet favorite of the coaching staff since the summer, doing enough to beat out Adrian Martinez for the QB3 job. Now, with Fields’ future in Florham Park all but sealed and Taylor’s injury history always a concern, Cook has a real chance to see game action down the stretch.

The Jets should be doing everything they can to use these final few weeks to evaluate what they have in the Missouri product. Getting QB2 practice reps will allow the staff to assess whether he could realistically compete for the backup job in 2026 and beyond.

This doesn’t guarantee Cook will see live game reps, but it puts him one Taylor injury away from playing meaningful NFL snaps. And the Jets seem to be comfortable with that. His audition starts in practice, where the staff will finally get daily, extended reps to determine what he is and isn’t.

If Cook impresses, a late-season start is certainly within reason. If he merely holds his own, that’s useful data too. Either way, additional reps in practice are important as the Jets evaluate their QB room ahead of an offseason that promises to feature major changes to the position group.

No matter how it unfolds, Brady Cook’s evaluation window was expected to open at some point, but after Fields’ knee injury, it’s wide open right now.