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.
Cooper has already won an NFC Defensive Player of the Week award this season. Could he win it again in Week 15?
