The Green Bay Packers escaped Tampa with a 17-14 win on Sunday, moving to 2-2 on the year. Jordan Love had his most efficient game of the season, finishing 22 of 30 (73.3%) for 197 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Green Bay also finally got the ground game going a bit, rushing for a season-high 86 yards.
It wasn't the prettiest win, but it keeps the Packers in the NFC North race, with Detroit also 2-2, Chicago 3-1 and Minnesota still undefeated. The game did come with some bad news, though. Star linebacker Edgerrin Cooper was carted off the field in the third quarter with what many instantly feared was an Achilles injury.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport confirmed the worst Monday, reporting that Cooper will miss the rest of the season after an MRI confirmed a torn Achilles. More news: Steelers Add Super Bowl Champion CB After Joey Porter Jr Trade Cooper was Green Bay's second-round pick in 2024 after breaking out at Texas A&M, where he earned consensus All-American and first-team All-SEC honors as a junior. Three seasons in, he has emerged as one of the Packers' best defenders.
Across 34 games (24 starts), he has 235 combined tackles (128 solo), 23 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback hits, nine pass breakups, three forced fumbles, two interceptions, and seven sacks. He was on pace for his best season yet, too, with 30 tackles, six tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, three sacks and one interception through the first four games. Just like that, his breakout season is over, and the injury could linger into 2027, which is currently a contract year for the rising defensive star.
More news: Puka Nacua Injury Update Sparks Major Concern for Rams More news: Robert Saleh Fires Back at Cam Ward Critics as Titans Fall to 0-4 With Cooper out, more pressure will fall on Lukas Van Ness, Zaire Franklin and Isaiah McDuffie to carry the Packers' defensive front. Unfortunately for Green Bay, some of the league's most high-powered offenses are coming up, with the Bears, Cowboys, Lions and Panthers next on the schedule.
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