A 40-40 primetime tie heading into the BYE Week leaves almost too much room for breaking down the Green Bay Packers’ sudden downturn. But a little issue here and a little issue there is exactly how the Packers went from early Super Bowl favorites to 2-1-1.
One of those issues is plaguing the otherwise strong start for linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. According to Pro Football Focus’s stats, Cooper has 28 tackles,13 run stops (any tackle that results in a failed run play), and half a sack through four weeks, but little else. No turnovers and few tackles for loss also stand out on his early-season resume.
Unfortunately, the negatives don’t end there. Cooper is also among the league leaders among linebackers in missed tackles. According to PFF, Cooper has missed 10 tackles through four weeks, the second-highest total at his position.
Edgerrin Cooper embodies the highs and lows of Green Bay Packers defense in 2025
In his second season, Cooper seemed poised to make a serious jump in the discussion for All-Pro honors and Defensive Player of the Year consideration. His rookie campaign, coupled with a strong offseason filled with praise and excitement, had Packers fans ready for a breakout season for Cooper, but outside of an explosive start, the stats and trends are headed in the wrong direction.
With 10 missed tackles in four weeks, Cooper is leaving a lot of production on the field. His performance against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night stood out to many as one of the worst of his young career despite finishing with seven total tackles.
For what it’s worth, while PFF highlights his missed tackles, they also grade him as an average linebacker. His 73.8 overall grade ranks 34th at his position, and his 28 tackles rank 7th. PFF even gave him a 77.5 grade against the Cowboys, signalling an above-average performance.
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But that seems to just point out the mixed bag Packers fans are getting out of Cooper this season. At times, he looks like the All-Pro fans were expecting, and at other times, he looks like a second-year player finding his footing.
Missed tackles come from a variety of reasons, but in Cooper’s case, it often comes down to over-pursuing. It’s a simple case of taking two steps forward and one step back, really. Cooper showed in the first two weeks that he’s taken a step forward in his play and maturation as a pro. However, in the two most recent games, he’s played too fast and put himself out of position to make plays consistently.
Hopefully, with a week off, hanging out with Micah Parsons, Cooper can get back on track. Thankfully, missing tackles is a correctable mistake, especially for a player of Cooper’s status.