Missouri's Brady Cook returns from hospital to lead comeback win over Auburn

Brady Cook was hobbled. So bad, that the Missouri quarterback had to go to the hospital for an MRI during Saturday’s game with Auburn.

Cook left after the first series with an injured ankle and didn’t return until the third quarter of Missouri’s 21-17 win over Auburn in a battle of teams nicknamed the Tigers.

Cook said he got to the hospital and back in a truck with a trainer, driving through tailgates.

“It was a long hour-and-a-half for sure. I did not think I was going to come back to play in the game. My stuff was off, my pads were off,” Cook said later. “Ultimately, I realized I had 2 1/2 games left to play in Faurot Field. We were going to find a way.”

Auburn led 17-6 in the final quarter before Cook led a 15-0 run by the Missouri Tigers, who are 6-1.

Cook had 194 passing yards in less than two quarters of play. He had no idea what was going on in the game because cellphones were not permitted in the area of the hospital he was being tested.

The game-winning touchdown came with 46 seconds left on a four-yard run by Jamal Roberts. It completed a 17-play. 95 yard drive.

“There’s a lot of toughness in that team. A lot of young guys in that team that have never won like that before,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “There’s a lot of fight in that team. And to figure it out like that bodes well for the rest of the year.”