Tigers in the NFL: Brady Cook makes first career start for New York Jets
After stepping into the starting role for an injured Tyrod Taylor in Week 14, Brady Cook took the reins for the New York Jets the following the weekend.
Cook made his first NFL start Sunday on the road against the Jacksonville Jaguars, falling to 3-11 with a 48-20 loss. The Jets’ struggles led to the firing of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who served the same position for Missouri in 2021, Cook’s redshirt freshman season.
In front his parents, fiancée and other family members, Cook passed for his first NFL touchdown in the first quarter on a nine-yard strike to wide receiver AD Mitchell, who made sure to grab the ball and hand it back to the rookie quarterback. Cook also celebrated his first score with New York right tackle and former Missouri teammate Armand Membou.
“Incredible moment,” Cook said postgame, via SNY. “It’s a play we worked all week. We got the look we wanted. AD ran a great route, got his head around and made a great catch. That’s a moment I won’t forget.”
Cook finished Sunday 22-for-33 with 176 yards, on touchdown and three interceptions. He became the first St. Louis (Mo.) Chaminade graduate to score a touchdown in the NFL after marking the first product of the school to reach the level of professional football.
While being sacked three times for 22 total yards, Cook made up ground as a rusher as well. The rookie manned six carries for 39 yards.
“There was great moments, and also, there’s a lot to learn from,” Cook said. “We put a lot of stuff on tape, and we’ll be able to watch it and correct it this week.”
How other Tigers performed in Week 15
Although leaving before the fourth quarter with an ankle injury, Luther Burden III started for the Chicago Bears on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, a team that passed on the wide receiver twice in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The rookie led Bears’ pass-catchers with 84 receiving yards on six receptions, while dropping one of his seven targets. Similar to his time at Missouri, Burden excelled in yards after catch Sunday in a 31-3 win over the Browns.
For the first time in his NFL career, Nick Bolton will not be playing in the playoffs. The Kansas City Chiefs were eliminated from the postseason Sunday after a 16-13 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Bolton recorded 11 tackles — five by himself and one for loss. The linebacker also logged one quarterback hit.
The Houston Texans waived running back Cody Schrader on Saturday after claiming the second-year player from the Jacksonville Jaguars five days prior. The Texans have dealt with injuries at running back the majority of the 2025 season.
| Name | Team | Stats |
| CB Kris Abrams-Draine | Denver Broncos | 2 TOT, 1 SOLO |
| RB Tyler Badie | Denver Broncos | 1 REC, 1 YD, 4 KOR, 113 YDS |
| DT Jordan Elliott | San Francisco 49ers | OUT (knee) |
| LB Ty’Ron Hopper | Green Bay Packers | 2 TOT, 1 SOLO |
| K Harrison Mevis | Los Angeles Rams | 2/2 FG, 5/5 XP |
| DE Isaiah McGuire | Cleveland Browns | 1 TOT |
| DL Darius Robinson | Arizona Cardinals | 2 TOT |