Injury Blow for Packers as Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper Carted Off

Cooper goes down

The Green Bay Packers suffered a major defensive blow during Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Linebacker Edgerrin Cooper was carted off the field in the third quarter after suffering an Achilles injury.

The injury happened without any contact. Cooper reached for his lower left leg and looked behind him as if he had been kicked, though no one was near him. He pounded his fists into the turf before the medical staff arrived. He could not put any weight on his left leg and was quickly ruled out of the game.

A costly afternoon for Green Bay

Before his injury, Cooper played a big role in putting the Packers ahead. In the second quarter, he intercepted a pass from Buccaneers rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels. That play, with just 36 seconds left in the first half, set up a 58 yard field goal by Trey Smack to give Green Bay a 10-7 lead at halftime.

The injury occurred on Tampa Bay's first drive of the second half. Cooper looked ready to blitz on a third and eight play. While safety Xavier McKinney managed to sack Daniels, the team's celebration ended quickly when they saw Cooper on the ground.

To make matters worse for the Packers defense, Cooper's replacement did not last long. Special teams captain Isaiah McDuffie came on to replace him but left the game after just five plays due to an eye injury.

A major loss for the defense

Losing Cooper is a big setback for Green Bay. The 2024 second round draft pick has been one of the team's best defensive players this season.

Entering Sunday's game, Cooper had recorded 21 tackles. He also led the team with six tackles for loss and was second on the roster with two sacks over the first three games of the season.