Brady Cook injury update: Missouri football’s Thursday availability report remains long

Posted by Admin October 25, 2024 Football

The big day is fast approaching, and Brady Cook’s status hasn’t changed.

The Missouri football quarterback, for the second straight day, received a “doubtful” designation on the team’s availability report released Thursday evening, meaning his status for the Tigers’ game against Alabama on Saturday in Tuscaloosa remains a major question.

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The Tigers’ full report, which featured nine active players with either a “questionable” or “doubtful” designation Wednesday, did not get any shorter, either.

The SEC-mandated reports are required of member organizations every night beginning Wednesday in the leadup to an in-conference matchup, with the final report publishing 90 minutes before kickoff. The possible designations, from most likely to play to least likely, are as follows: available; probable; questionable; doubtful; out.

The lone change on the Tigers’ Thursday report was wide receiver Mookie Cooper, who has been downgraded to “out” and will miss the Alabama game. In addition to Cook, one more player remained “doubtful” in running back Nate Noel.

Six players were marked as “questionable” on the report: safeties Daylan Carnell, Joseph Charleston, Tre’Vez Johnson and Sidney Williams Sr.; tight end Brett Norfleet; and left guard Cayden Green. Wide receiver Marquis Johnson remained probable to play.

Cook is dealing with a high-ankle sprain suffered against Auburn, against whom he managed to return and stage a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback. If he can’t play against Alabama, Drew Pyne will be first in line to start under center.

Noel reportedly has a foot injury, and ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that Noel would miss Saturday’s contest against Alabama. The Tribune was told by a team spokesperson Wednesday that no official decision has been made by the team on Noel’s participation.

Beyond doubt surrounding Mizzou’s starting quarterback, the Tigers’ most concerning position, health-wise, is likely at safety, where four of its five most used players are questionable. If multiple players at the position cannot play Saturday, Missouri likely will have to turn to sophomore Phillip Roche or true freshman Trajen Greco to fill in the missing reps.

Cooper is Missouri’s third-leading receiver on the season with 235 yards on 12 catches. He is likely to be replaced by either Marquis Johnson or Joshua Manning, both of whom are sophomores and have shown flashes in their young careers.

Green was the major surprise inclusion on Mizzou’s report this week, as he played every possible snap versus Auburn last Saturday. Mitchell Walters, who Missouri has frequently used as a sixth lineman in heavy sets this season, is Green’s likely replacement if the sophomore offensive guard cannot go.

Norfleet is Mizzou’s leading tight end with 106 receiving yards and a touchdown this season but has been banged up for a significant portion of the fall. He left Missouri’s game against Auburn in the first quarter but returned later.