Missouri fans anxiously awaited news all week about whether their star quarterback, Brady Cook, would play against Alabama after suffering an ankle injury in the previous game against Auburn. Cook was a game-time decision but ultimately started, leading the Tigers’ first five drives before exiting with a different injury on the fifth.
Backup quarterback Drew Pyne replaced Cook as he went to the locker room for X-rays. It was later reported that Cook would not return for the second half, this time due to an upper-body injury rather than his previous ankle issue.
Cook injured his throwing hand after hitting it on an Alabama defender’s helmet, which led to the X-rays, and the injury was later classified as more than just a hand issue. At the time of his exit, Cook had completed 7 of 12 passes for 30 yards with no touchdowns. Pyne struggled in relief, throwing an interception on his first drive and later going 3-for-7 for 18 yards with another interception.
Missouri will need to adjust moving forward, especially if Cook is sidelined for any extended time due to either his new injury or the lingering ankle problem that had initially sent him to the hospital during last week’s game, although he returned to finish that contest.
