Rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has a big night against the Seahawks in Week 15
Former All-American Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has been making a name for himself in Green Bay. On Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, he had one of his best games of his rookie season.
After missing three games with an injury, Cooper came back like he had never missed a step; he was a one-man wrecking crew member in a backup role. The rookie was all over the field and made plays in every way possible for a defensive player. Cooper had seven tackles, one sack, and two passes defended on the night.
However, his most impressive play of the night was when he dropped back into coverage and picked off Seahawks QB Geno Smith at mid-field late in the fourth quarter. Up ten helped seal the game and ruin the Seahawks’ chance at a comeback.
Aggie fans are well aware of the type of player Cooper is, and the Packers get a glimpse of him every time he steps on the field.
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Packers rookie LB Edgerrin Cooper returned from a hamstring injury and looked like a star in Seattle on Sunday night.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper produced a star-level performance in his return from a three-game absence on Sunday night in Seattle.
Cooper, the rookie from Texas A&M, impacted the game as a run defender, blitzer, in coverage and on special teams.
Cooper missed games against the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions after injuring his hamstring in practice on Nov. 20. He returned Sunday night in Seattle and often looked like the best player on the field.
Cooper produced seven tackles. All seven were impactful.
1. Tackle covering opening kickoff
2. Sack of Geno Smith on 3rd-and-4, forcing punt
3. Tackle on Jaxon Smith-Njigba after 1-yard catch
4. Tackle on 3rd-and-29, forcing punt
5. Tackle covering kickoff
6. Tackle against run after 3-yard gain
7. Tackle for loss on final play
On the sack, Cooper won inside on a game with Kenny Clark and took down Smith in the pocket. Later, he exploded across the field and dumped Smith-Njigba on a screen pass after a short gain. His elite play speed showed up time and time again.
He also delivered the dagger interception in the fourth quarter, and he nearly had an interception on an earlier drive in the second half. On the pick, Cooper undercut a throw from Sam Howell intended for tight end Noah Fant, secured the catch and returned the pick inside the Seahawks’ 30-yard line, setting up the final touchdown.
Cooper’s final stat line: Seven tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, two quarterback hits, one interception, two passes defended.
Kingley Enagbare said Cooper was “special.” Coach Matt LaFleur said Cooper is a “hell of a player” who is just “scratching the surface” of his potential as a playmaker.
It’s no coincidence that Cooper’s return to the lineup coincided with the Packers defense coming alive as an attacking unit. The rookie led the way for a disruptive defense that created seven sacks, two takeaways and 12 quarterback hits and allowed only 208 total yards and 13 points.
The Green Bay Packers will return rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper from a hamstring injury that cost him the last three games.
The Green Bay Packers will return rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper from a hamstring injury that cost him the last three games.
Coach Matt LaFleur confirmed Cooper will play Sunday night against the Seattle Seahawks after missing almost a month with a hamstring injury.
“He was doing a really good job (before the injury). It’s going to be great to get him back out there,” LaFleur said Friday. “He obviously brings an element, in terms of his speed and athleticism, adds another dimension to our defense.”
Cooper suffered the hamstring injury during practice on the Wednesday before playing the San Francisco 49ers in Week 12. He missed games against the 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions.
Cooper, a second-round pick, has 52 tackles, 2.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He was the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 8 after producing a sack, forced fumble and pass breakup during the Packers’ win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Before the injury, Cooper was on the field for at least 60 percent of defense’s snaps in five straight games, including a season-high 51 snaps during the Packers’ win over the Chicago Bears.
It’s unclear if the Packers will ease Cooper back into the mix at linebacker. Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson have handled the majority of reps at the position with Cooper out.
In related injury news, the Packers won’t have rookie defensive back Javon Bullard, who is out with an ankle injury, or cornerback Jaire Alexander, who is still attempting to recover from a knee ligament injury. Receiver Romeo Doubs and safety Evan Williams are both out of concussion protocol and will be available to play against the Seahawks.
The Packers won’t have rookie LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) against the 49ers on Sunday.
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur confirmed rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper will not play Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers because of a hamstring injury suffered during Wednesday’s practice.
Cooper, who appeared in all 10 games to start his rookie season, didn’t practice Thursday or Friday.
While LaFleur does not think the soft-tissue injury will be a long-term issue, it’s possible Cooper will be hard-pressed to play on a short turnaround next Thursday against the Miami Dolphins.
Cornerback Jaire Alexander didn’t practice at all this week and isn’t expected to play Sunday, leaving the Packers defense without two preferred starters.
A second-round pick out of Texas A&M, Cooper has played at least 60 percent of the defense’s snaps in each of the last five games. His speed and playmaking ability have helped make the Packers more disruptive against the run and blitzing the quarterback over the last two months. Cooper has a tackle for loss or a quarterback hit in five of the last eight games.
Without Cooper on Sunday, the Packers will rely on starter Quay Walker and veterans Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson at linebacker. McDuffie has started all 10 games this season, while Wilson — who leads the team with seven tackles for loss — has made game-changing plays in wins over the Colts and Texans earlier this season.
A hamstring injury has the Packers concerned that rookie LB Edgerin Cooper will miss Sunday’s game against the 49ers.
Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur said rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper injured his hamstring during Wednesday’s practice, which led to Thursday’s absence, and there is now legitimate concern that Cooper won’t be available for Sunday’s showdown with the San Francisco 49ers.
LaFleur wasn’t ready to rule out Cooper for Sunday and wants to first see how he feels Friday. The Packers will release a final injury report with playing status designations on Friday afternoon.
“We’ll see, we’ll see how he’s feeling tomorrow,” LaFleur said.
Cooper, a second-round pick of Texas A&M, has played at least 30 snaps on defense in six straight games. His speed and blitzing ability have provided playmaking production from the second level for the Packers defense.
Among rookies, Cooper ranks sixth in “stops,” a tackle that creates a failure for the offense based on down and distance. He also has 2.5 sacks, including a strip-sack, plus a fumble recovery.
The Packers have veteran options available at linebacker if Cooper can’t go. Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson would be the primary linebackers if Cooper isn’t available.
Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper and Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk put on strong performances this weekend.
Three former members of the Texas A&M football team put on strong performances this past weekend in the NFL.
Tampa Bay superstar wide receiver Mike Evans put on a show in front of former teammate Tom Brady to become the all-time leading scorer in Buccaneers franchise history. Evans accomplished the feat during a 33-16 victory versus Philadelphia.
Meanwhile across the league, a pair of Aggies alumni recorded respective firsts on Sunday afternoon. Rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper tallied his first fumble recovery for Green Bay. Seventh-year wideout Christian Kirk hauled in his first touchdown catch of the season for Jacksonville.
Kirk racked up 7 receptions on 12 targets for 61 yards and a score during a 24-20 loss at Houston. He has totaled 17 catches for 169 yards and 1 TD through four games. The Jaguars (0-4) host the Colts for an AFC South matchup on Sunday at noon.
Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
Cooper has 13 tackles (8 solo), 0.5 sacks, 1 fumble recovery and 1 pass defense thus far. The Packers (2-2) lost to the Vikings 31-29 at home in Week 4. Green Bay plays in Los Angeles against the Rams on Sunday at 3:25 p.m.
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Expect more snaps for Packers rookie LB Edgerrin Cooper after an impressive season opener.
An impressive season opener for Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper is likely to lead to more snaps on defense moving forward.
Cooper flashed playmaking ability over 11 snaps against the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. The second-round pick produced three solo tackles, including a run stop on Saquon Barkley, and a batted pass.
Expect more snaps for Cooper, starting Sunday against Anthony Richardson, Jonathan Taylor and the Indianapolis Colts.
“He certainly flashed and made some plays. I would anticipate him getting more time moving forward,” LaFleur said Monday, per Ryan Wood of PackersNews.com.
Cooper might already be a full-time player had he not suffered a hip injury during training camp and missed all three preseason games.
Per grades at Pro Football Focus, Cooper was the Packers’ highest rated defensive player vs. the Eagles. He helped make a stop on Jalen Hurts, created an impressive solo takedown of Barkley and prevented a potential big play when he batted down a pass on a blitz. Cooper also had a solo tackle when he sped down the field, beat a block and made the stop covering a kickoff in the first half. On one coverage snap, Cooper recovered a misstep and covered the tight end, helping force a throwaway. Later, he covered up Barkley out of the backfield and stuck with him in the scramble drill.
The Packers relied on Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie as the every-down linebackers in Week 1. Walker was on the field for every snap, while McDuffie played 97 percent of the defense’s snaps. Cooper split time with veteran Eric Wilson, who played 15 snaps. It’s possible Cooper could eat up even more of Wilson’s playing time moving forward, and McDuffie’s role as an every down player could be in jeopardy if Cooper continues to flash.
The Packers made Cooper the 45th overall pick in the 2024 draft. He was the highest-graded off-ball linebacker in college football at PFF last season.
View some of the best photos of Aggies from Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season
The 2024 NFL season has officially started, and over two dozen former Texas A&M players are currently on 53-man rosters across the league.
As the season gets underway, we’ll start selecting the best performances each week to highlight the top players who once sported the Maroon & White on Saturdays. However, we just wanted to provide the fans with photos captured over the weekend.
Every Aggie is not represented in this gallery but there are great shots from veteran and future Hall of Famer Mike Evans to rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. Making it to the National Football League is something few athletes will achieve, and we want to wish every Aggie in the NFL a safe and healthy season.
It was an amazing opening week for these former Aggies, and you can check out some of the action shots from week 1 of the NFL season.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X: @whosnextsports1.
The Packers will return rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper to practice for individual work on Tuesday.
The Green Bay Packers will finally return rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper from a hip injury that has kept him for almost three weeks of action. According to coach Matt LaFleur, Cooper will be back and doing individual drills during Tuesday’s practice.
LaFleur also said rookie running back MarShawn Lloyd would remain out with a hamstring injury, and rookie offensive lineman Jordan Morgan might return to 11-on-11 work this week.
“Cooper will be there for (individual) today,” LaFleur said.
Cooper, the team’s first of two second-round picks, hasn’t practiced since July 31. He missed Family Night, the preseason opener in Cleveland, a joint practice in Denver and another preseason game over the last three weeks.
The Packers are currently two weeks and three days away from the season opener in Brazil. It will be difficult for Cooper — who won’t immediately return to 11-on-11 work — to catch up and be an instant contributor at linebacker, especially with veterans Isaiah McDuffie and Eric Wilson ahead of him.
It’s unclear if Cooper will be ready to go for Saturday’s preseason finale against the Baltimore Ravens. The Packers practice Tuesday before Thursday’s joint practice with the Ravens.
Cooper was the 45th overall pick in the 2024 draft. He was a first-team All-SEC and All-American after producing 17 tackles for loss and 8.0 sacks for Texas A&M.
The Green Bay Packers are entering the 2024 season with a new wave of rookies ready to step up and make their mark.
The Green Bay Packers are entering the 2024 season with a new wave of rookies ready to step up and make their mark. With key departures and opportunities across the roster, this year’s rookie class will be crucial to the Packers’ success.
Here are the top five rookies who could make the biggest impact on the field this season:
1. Jordan Morgan (OT, Arizona)
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Yes, of course, you expect your first-round pick to be the most impactful rookie but Morgan makes sense considering he will be receiving most of the playing time out of all the draft picks. Morgan is going to have a prominent role along the offensive line and will most likely fit into the right guard position if the Packers decide to roll out their five best offensive linemen (Rasheed Walker – Elgton Jenkins – Josh Myers – Jordan Morgan – Zach Tom). The tackle-to-guard transition is not uncommon but Morgan’s ability to adapt quickly to the NFL will be key, as his performance in both pass protection and the running game will be crucial to the success of the Packers’ offense.
2. Javon Bullard (S, Georgia)
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
Bullard is another player poised to make an immediate impact for the Packers. The former Georgia Bulldog is known for his physical play, ability to cover a wide range of responsibilities and to be used in multiple positions. Head Coach Matt LaFleur noticed Bullard doing “a lot of great things” in their preseason game against the Cleveland Browns and the hope is for him to take the majority of the first-team snaps. With Xavier McKinney in the fold, the potential of this safety duo could be the catalyst for turning the Packers’ secondary into one of the most formidable in the league after being a massive reliability last season.
3. Edgerrin Cooper (LB, Texas A&M)
Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper runs through drills during rookie minicamp Friday at the Don Hutson Center.
One unit that fans should be excited about is the linebackers. Quay Walker has shown promise throughout his first two seasons in the NFL and continues to play a prominent role, Now, the Packers added a linebacker in the second round with Cooper, and the two form a speedy and athletic duo. Cooper can become a key defensive contributor right out of the gate with his ability to thrive in both run support and pass coverage. His combination of speed and instincts could turn the Packers’ linebacker corps into one of the most formidable units in the league. Cooper has the potential to solidify the linebacker position and become a central figure in the Packers’ defensive schemes with Walker.
4. MarShawn Lloyd (RB, USC)
Running back MarShawn Lloyd (32) is shown during organized team activities for the Green Bay Packers Tuesday, May 21, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Unlike the first two options, Lloyd might not see a ton of playing time out of the game or make an immediate impact. Arguably one of the best running backs in this year’s draft, Lloyd is known for his explosiveness and ability to create big plays, both as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield. As he transitions to the NFL, Lloyd will likely rotate with new Packers running back Josh Jacobs but will be eating into the carries of AJ Dillon, whose role in the offense could be in question right before the season starts. However, if Lloyd quickly adapts to the NFL’s speed and physicality, he could emerge as a key playmaker later in the season, providing a dynamic element to the Packers’ offense and providing a 1-2 punch with Jacobs.
5. Evan Williams (S, Oregon)
Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
The Packers loaded up on safeties in the draft and Williams looks like a player that shouldn’t be overlooked. Coming into the draft, Williams was already known for his physical style of play and his understanding of the game. However, he’s shown a lot more. Williams made an impact during the first preseason game and continues to impress when he’s on the field. One thing that stands out that Packers fans haven’t seen in a while from a safety is the tackling.
31 seconds of rookie Evan Williams already being one of the best tacklers on the Packers. pic.twitter.com/PcANuAV49Q
Williams’s tackling ability was highlighted in their preseason game with the Browns, including a forced fumble. It might be tough to get the starting nod with McKinney and Bullard in the fold but if Williams keeps making plays, the Packers might have to find a role for him.
The Packers’ 2024 rookie class is filled with potential, and these five players are poised to make an impact right away. From solidifying the offensive line to strengthening the defense, these rookies will play crucial roles as the Packers navigate their way to a successful season.
