Quarterback Brady Cook’s status versus Alabama remains up in the air, as No. 21 Mizzou continues preparation
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The No. 21 Mizzou football team already has a lot to contend with in its matchup with No. 15 Alabama on Saturday. Whether it's the 17-year-old phenom wide receiver Ryan Williams or the stacked defensive line or the true dual threat quarterback that is Jalen Milroe, head coach Eli Drinkwitz has a lot of preparation ahead. However, he'll also have to key in on the injuries his own roster.
All eyes will be on quarterback Brady Cook in the days before the meeting between the Tigers and the Crimson Tide. Mizzou's starter went down on the first drive of Saturday's win over Auburn with a right ankle injury. While he did come back in the second half to lead his team to victory, it will be something for Coach Eli to watch in the coming days.
During Tuesday's weekly press conference, Drinkwitz didn't have much of an update on Cook or the other two players who sustained injuries: running back Nate Noel and tight end Brett Norfleet.
"I know everyone's going to want to health update with our guys...I don't have much of one, just because we haven't practiced. We practice this afternoon, so I don't know for sure either way. We'll follow SEC protocols, and we'll get that information out [Wednesday] night," he said.
You can watch the full press conference with Coach Drinkwitz in the video player below.
When asked if Cook would participate in practice on Tuesday, Drinkwitz said, "I don't know about participating." Normally, the opening periods of Mizzou's practice are open to the media to observe and get video, however, the team announced it would be a closed practice this week. The move comes, mainly, to avoid speculation around the starting quarterback's health.
As the week moves on, more information will come out on Cook's availability at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, but Tiger fans did get a look at his backup in the win over Auburn. Drew Pyne, an Arizona State transfer, went into the game after Cook went down. He completed 47 percent of his passes for 78 yards, while leading one drive that resulted in points, which was a field goal.
If Pyne does need to see action against Alabama, offensive lineman Marcus Bryant said it doesn't change things that much for the front five. While Cook is a more mobile quarterback than Pyne, the blocking is all the same.
"It doesn't really change. We know what we got to do to win the game. We got to keep pushing forward with us five every single play," Bryant said.
You can watch the full press conference with Bryant in the video player below.
However, if Mizzou fans have learned anything over his years in Columbia, it's clear that Cook will fight his hardest to get into the ball game. Wide receiver Luther Burden knows his fellow St. Louis native just about better than anybody on that Tiger team and he said that Cook's fight on Saturday was no surprise to him.
"He just really showed everybody what I already knew," Burden said. "I been knew he was a dog, so I was glad to see him come out there and overcome a huge challenge."
You can watch the full press conference with Burden in the video player below.
Defensively, MU will have their hands full against the Crimson Tide.
Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer has not shortage of weapons on the offensive side of the football. From the passing game to the run game, Coach Drink said it's a bit like picking your poison if you try to eliminate just one.
Milroe is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the league. He ranks fifth in the SEC in 2024 with 1,722 passing yards, so far, along with 13 touchdowns. On the ground, he has ran in for 11 touchdowns on 330 yards.
"Great player, tremendous player, twitchy athlete, he's dangerous with the ball in his hands," Mizzou defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. said. "We have to approach him the same way we approach everyone else. I believe we've had success int the past doing it and we can replicate it again."
You can watch the full press conference with Walker Jr. in the video player below.
It'll be the first tough road environment that Coach Drinkwitz and company have faced since losing to Texas A&M by 31 points at Kyle Field. Year-after-year, Bryant-Denny Stadium is one of the toughest places to play. The Crimson Tide is 37-2 against SEC opponents at home over the last decade.
"We can't play overanalyzing every situation," Drinkwitz said. "We can't have too many checks on both sides of the ball, we can't have too what ifs. You know, we can't have if they do this, then we're gonna do this and if they motion this, we're gonna check to this or if they show us this coverage, we're gonna check to this. Like, we got to go out there and play football. It's gonna come down to who's able to stop the run, who's able to run the football, who's able to defend the pass, are we gonna be able to tackle, are they gonna be able to tackle us...Sometimes we get caught up too much in the minuta and if you just go back and watch our game from a 10,000 feet view, just cause it was a good idea doesn't make it the best idea for our team. We got to focus on what we can do."
Mizzou and Alabama will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 26.
