Packers LB Cooper Out for Season With Torn Achilles — SkimNews
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- Edgerrin Cooper suffered a season-ending torn left Achilles during the Packers' 17-14 victory over the Buccaneers, confirmed by an MRI, per sources including ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport
- The injury happened without contact as Cooper prepared to blitz on third-and-8 from the Bucs' 37 with 8:31 left in the third quarter; he reached for his lower left leg, pounded his fist into the turf, and was carted off unable to bear weight
- The 2024 second-round pick entered Sunday with 21 tackles, a team-best six tackles for loss, and two sacks in three games, then added nine more tackles and a sack in 2½ quarters before exiting
- Cooper's first interception of the season — a pick of Jalon Daniels with 36 seconds left in the first half — set up Trey Smack's 58-yard field goal that sent Green Bay into halftime ahead 10-7
- The Packers (2-2) survived without him despite two fourth-quarter turnovers, as defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon blitzed Tampa Bay's final three plays, producing a sack by safety Evan Williams and a near-interception by cornerback Keisean Nixon
Why it matters: Cooper was Green Bay's most disruptive linebacker through three games, leading the team in tackles for loss, and his snap-eating role now lands on a thin rotation mid-season. The defense showed it can finish games without him, holding on after two fourth-quarter giveaways, but the Packers just lost the tone-setter of coordinator Jonathan Gannon's front seven with 14 games still to play.
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