Chiefs safety Bryan Cook goes jaw to jaw with Patrick Mahomes and couldn’t be happier

Chiefs safety Bryan Cook came up with a deflected interception of a Patrick Mahomes pass during a red zone drill on Friday and gave Mahomes an earful.

Mahomes responded on the next play, creating a situation that isolated tight end Jared Wiley on Cook. Touchdown. No more jawing.

A fun, competitive moment was a highlight of a long practice, and Cook is relishing every moment. He’s been one of the team’s top defensive performers throughout training camp, an energy giver who seems to be making up for lost time after missing the final five games and all of the postseason in 2023 after suffering a Week 13 ankle injury.

A contributor to the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory the previous season, Cook could only watch his teammates win their second straight last February.

“It was challenging,” Cook said. “The hardest part is realizing your guys are out there battling and you can’t do anything to help them. But at the end of the day, shoutout to them. They got the job done. It wasn’t that bad when you look at the end.”

Cook, a second round pick from Cincinnati in 2022, was having a successful second season, starting all 12 games, when he was injured at Green Bay. He had played at least 80% of the defensive snaps eight times and had recorded his first NFL interception against the Los Angeles Chargers.

A season highlight: his play in the second half at the New York Jets. Running back Breece Hall had broken into the open field with only one man to beat for what would have been a go-ahead touchdown. But Cook shed his blocker for the tackle. The Jets didn’t score and the Chiefs won by a field goal .

Cook was big part of a Chiefs defense that not only had improved over the previous season but was in many ways leading the team. The Chiefs wound up second in fewest points and yards allowed.

Nine starters, including Cook, return — all but cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and linebacker Willie Gay, as the Chiefs look to pick up where they left off.

“We’re looking pretty good so far,” Cook said.

So is Cook, whose safety position is a team strength. Justin Reid is the group veteran, although he’s missed training camp practices with a quad injury. That’s meant more snaps for Cook, Chamarri Conner and rookie Jaden Hicks. Cook has been the leader.

“He finishes every play,” cornerback Trent McDuffie said of Cook. “You see him each and every play, running down the field 80 yards to tackle a ball carrier. He can go sideline to sideline. I’m excited to have him healthy.”