Missouri quarterback Brady Cook left Saturday’s game against Auburn in the first quarter with an ankle injury, then made a trip to the hospital before returning late in the third quarter to help the Tigers to a 21-17 home victory.
Cook underwent an MRI exam at the hospital, Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said after the victory, which improved No. 19 Missouri to 6-1, 2-1 in the Southeastern Conference.
“I played through stuff before, I played through adversity before,” Cook told ESPN afterward. “This isn’t nothing new. It’s just another step.”
No. 19 Missouri rallied for 15 fourth-quarter points to post the victory over Auburn (2-5, 0-4). Cook finished 11-of-22 for 194 yards and guided the Tigers on a decisive 17-play, 95-yard drive that was capped by Jamal Roberts’ 4-yard run with 46 seconds to play.
He also was highly intense after the victory.
“I am emotional. Mizzou means so much to me,” Cook said. “The first six games, they haven’t gone the way I wish they would have in a lot of ways. To come out in the first drive and get hurt and think I wouldn’t come back in the game and then find a way … and we get it done.”
Said Drinkwitz: “For all the criticism that young man takes, (No.) 12 sure would die on the field for everybody.”
Cook came up limping on the first series for Missouri after his leg came out from under him on a non-contact play. He jogged off the field with a trainer.
The third-year starter, a St. Louis-area native, was replaced by veteran quarterback Drew Pyne, who previously played at Notre Dame and Arizona State. Pyne completed 10 of 21 passes for 78 yards.
Cook completed 3 of 4 pass attempts for 37 yards before he departed with just under 12 minutes left in the first quarter. On the third play after his return, Cook connected on a 78-yard pass to Mookie Cooper, and Marcus Carroll scored on a 2-yard run one play later to bring Missouri within 17-14 with 14:57 remaining.
In an interview on Sports Radio 810WHB earlier this week, Cook said he had been “a little dinged up, lower-body wise” but was feeling good and “ready to make some plays this weekend.”
Entering Saturday’s game, Cook had thrown for 1,351 yards with seven touchdowns and an interception in the first six games. He had added four rushing touchdowns.
Prior to Saturday, he appeared in 40 games over five seasons for the Tigers, with 7,824 passing yards, 45 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He also had 1,110 rushing yards and 19 TDs.
