Packers rookie receives deserved recognition after huge performance vs the Jaguars

Edgerrin Cooper has been exactly what Green Bay Packers fans expected from him. And his great performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, helping the team win 30-27, hasn’t gone unnoticed nationally. The rookie off-ball linebacker has been named the NFC Defensive Player of Week 8. Cooper recorded eight tackles, a sack, a forced fumble […]

Wendell Ferreira — NFL News Writer
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Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (56) tackles Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) who can’t hang on to a pass and was apparently injured on the play and had to leave the game during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Packers edged the Jaguars 30-27 on a last-second field goal.
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Edgerrin Cooper has been exactly what Green Bay Packers fans expected from him. And his great performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, helping the team win 30-27, hasn’t gone unnoticed nationally. The rookie off-ball linebacker has been named the NFC Defensive Player of Week 8.

Cooper recorded eight tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a pass defensed in Green Bay’s 30-27 win at Jacksonville. He became the first rookie with five-or-more tackles, a sack and a forced fumble in a game this season.

This is Cooper’s first-career Player of the Week Award, becoming the first Packers rookie to win Defensive Player of the Week since Clay Matthews (Week 13, 2009). Cooper joins Von Miller (Week 11, 2011) as the only former Texas A&M players to win Defensive Player of the week as a rookie.

Snapcount

The most surprising factor is that Edgerrin Cooper has been so productive in spite of not being a full-time starter. Quay Walker didn’t play, and even then Cooper (34) was outsnapped by Eric Wilson (57) and Isaiah McDuffie (38).

The coaching staff has talked about practice and preparation habits, and that’s ultimately why he hasn’t played more snaps so far. But his play on the field is so good that eventually he will get more space — especially because the other linebackers on the roster are not that productive to justify this approach.

Players of week 8

NFC

  • Offense: QB Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons)
  • Defense: LB Edgerrin Cooper (Green Bay Packers)
  • Special teams: PR Kalif Raymond (Detroit Lions)

AFC

  • Offense: QB Jameis Winston (Cleveland Browns)
  • Defense: EDGE TJ Watt (Pittsburgh Steelers)
  • Special teams: PR Calvin Austin (Pittsburgh Steelers)

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