The Eagles defeated the Packers 34-29 in Week 1 behind Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley, who finished with 132 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns in the first meeting.
The Green Bay Packers defense has undergone quite a few changes since they faced the Eagles to kick off the season in Brazil, and one of the biggest has been the emergence of rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper.
During the season-opening loss, Cooper played only 11 snaps on defense after sitting out the entire preseason with a hip injury,
Cooper finished his first NFL season by appearing in 14 games (four starts) and totaling 57 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four pass breakups, and one interception.
According to PFF, here is how Cooper’s numbers stack up against other rookie linebackers in 2024:
Defensive snaps: 4th
Tackles: 3rd
Stops: 1st
Pressures: 2nd
Sacks: 1st
Like Vic Fangio did with Zack Baun, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s willingness to deploy Cooper as a pass-rusher had added a dynamic element to the defense that could make things difficult for Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Green Bay could also use Cooper’s speed and athleticism to contain and slow down Saquon Barkley.
