Brady Cook was down but not out.

The Missouri quarterback, who was injured in the first half of the game Saturday with Auburn, returned to the game with 31 seconds left in the third quarter after the school said he and Nate Noel were “not likely to return.”

As it turns out, Noel did return with a heavily taped foot in the second half.

Cook followed in grand style, hitting Mookie Cooper for a 78-yard strike to the Auburn 2 to end the quarter. A play later, Missouri scored, and Cook ran in the 2-point conversion to cut the Auburn lead to 17-14.

The quarterback left the game with an ankle injury. He appeared to hobble after a first-quarter sack, then fell to the ground a few plays later before heading to the locker room.

Cook was 3 of 4 for 37 yards before leaving the game.

Missouri went with Drew Pyne, an Arizona State transfer.

Heading into the game, Cook had 1,357 yards passing and seven touchdowns with just one interception.

Meanwhile, Noel had five carries to start the game but didn’t see the ball much of the first half. He missed last week’s game against UMass with back tightness. He suffered a lower body injury Saturday against Auburn.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.