The Bills’ newest wide receiver, Amari Cooper, drove to Buffalo from Cleveland upon being traded to the team on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, he began walkthroughs and got his first introduction to their playbook before his first practice on Thursday.
By Sunday, he was on the field at Highmark Stadium for his first game as a Bill, including his first touchdown catch from quarterback Josh Allen en route to a 34-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans.
“It was just another day at the office at the wide receiver position,” Cooper said postgame about his comfort level.
When the ball made its way into Cooper’s hands for the third-quarter score on a slant run route he ran in a self-described signature “atypical” style, and again later in the contest when he made a catch for a first down early in the fourth quarter, the home crowd loudly cheered “Coooooop” in response.
He would finish four-for-five on targets with 66 yards in a game he learned he’d be playing in on the same call that informed him of the trade.
And playing in front of Bills fans in Orchard Park made quite an impression on the star receiver.
“It was very impressive,” Cooper said to the media postgame. “The fans, it adds a good feel to the game. Like I said, it just felt different, the fans, for some reason. I kind of got the warning throughout the week that the fans are very passionate. I have been a part of a lot of very passionate fanbases. I played for the Raiders, the Cowboys, the Browns, Alabama—but this one, it seems a little bit more heightened. I guess that’s a good thing.”
High praise from the 10-year NFL veteran who’s played for passionate fan bases at the pro and collegiate level.
“It seems like a different ‘Coop’ chant every single time,” he added. “Just grateful, appreciative, there was something special about the one today though.”
His new coach was happy to have him in a Buffalo jersey as well.
“It’s good to have [Cooper] here. He made an impact just in four days, really, four teachable, learnable days,” head coach Sean McDermott noted to the press. “And then to come out on day five here and execute like he did was impressive.”
Cooper’s experience helped to streamline his transition to a new offense, as noted by his new quarterback as well.
“I think being seven years in the league now, just like understanding guys of [Cooper’s] caliber, they don’t need a lot,” Josh Allen said. “They go out there, give him a clear mind, let him go play. That’s what he did out there a couple times, just finding zones, finding windows. He made a really good catch on that slant. But, again, just the professionalism that he has, the ability that he has, just trusting what I see with him, and things will turn out pretty good.”
