Kansas City Chiefs S Bryan Cook is finally back on the field after an untimely ankle injury in Week 13 ended his second NFL season prematurely. His return could well help the team offset their biggest personnel loss on the defensive side of the ball this offseason.
Cook had emerged as a starter on defense opposite Justin Reid in 2023. At the time of his injury, only three other defenders had more snaps (592) on the season. He'd recorded 42 total tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception, and two passes defended. He was the only Chiefs defensive player to score a touchdown at that point of the season.
Cook back on the field for mandatory minicamp
During mandatory minicamp, Cook was able to participate in team drills for the first time since his injury. Chiefs secondary coach Dave Merritt noted that the smile on his face after getting back out there with his teammates was priceless. He was an absolute pest for the offense on the first day of mandatory minicamp, too. Several reporters noted that he locked Travis Kelce down in coverage, recording an interception on a tipped pass by Kelce and breaking up another reception during team drills.
"He's an absolute stud of a professional and a football player," Kelce said after practice. "You can just see him getting better and better every single snap, every single day, and it's because of his mindset and how he approaches life. Man, I just love that dude."
In his rehab and recovery from his ankle injury, Cook appears to have gained some speed. Those in attendance at mandatory minicamp have noted that he's noticeably quicker to close on the football. That could just be a product of not seeing him on the field for a while, but it also could just be his natural development path as a third-year professional. He knows the system and can react to what he's seeing much more quickly.
How Cook could help replace L'Jarius Sneed's playmaking
Steve Spagnuolo and Dave Merritt have both admitted that it's going to be extremely tough to replace a player like CB L'Jarius Sneed, who was traded to the Tennessee Titans this offseason. It's going to take a village, and that doesn't just include the cornerback room. To make up for having a lockdown cornerback like Sneed, even the safety group will have to step up and make some extra plays come football season.
It wasn't long ago that Spags envisioned Cook as the quarterback of the defense. As he returns from his injury he feels the pressure and expectations, but he relishes the opportunity ahead of him.
"A lot of pressure," Cook said, via KSHB-TV's Aaron Ladd. "A lot of expectations for myself, but it's all a blessing. It's all a blessing. Pressure makes diamonds. So at that point just realizing it's the process and you've got to go through it."
A season ago, Sneed recorded a pair of interceptions, 14 passes defended, a fumble recovery, and five tackles for loss. He didn't allow a touchdown reception until the playoffs. If Cook can have a breakout campaign, he could well help whichever cornerback(s) ends up out on the field opposite Trent McDuffie in the base and sub-package defenses for Kansas City.
