GREEN BAY, Wis. — Sure, the Green Bay Packers may be keeping their heads above water at 2-2, but they could find themselves sinking in the near future without star linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.
Navigating the loss of Cooper, who is confirmed to have suffered a torn Achilles, could prove to be too tall a task for the Packers to overcome. Cooper exited Sunday’s win over the Buccaneers just a few minutes into the second half after hitting the deck and immediately grabbing the back of his ankle. He flew back to Green Bay with the team, underwent further testing, and confirmed everyone’s fears.
What’s even more demoralizing is the fact that Cooper appeared to be on the cusp of All-Pro recognition through the Packers’ first four games. He was second on the team in tackles, but had a team-high three sacks, six tackles for a loss, and an interception on Sunday—his first since his rookie season. In his first year under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, Cooper has been flying around the field, epitomizing what it means to be a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker.
The Packers will likely turn to Isaiah McDuffie and Ty’Ron Hopper to pick up the pieces sans Cooper. They may even outsource for some aid and peruse the free-agent market, but the players already on the roster are going to be pushed into a premier role.
Sunday was the last time the Packers—and you, the reader—will watch Cooper play football until next September, assuming he doesn’t have any setbacks in his recovery timeline. Enjoy it.
