Packers’ Rookie Phenom Edgerrin Cooper Sets New Standard: Youngest Player to Win Player of the Week in Franchise History
Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper made some history when he was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the Week on Wednesday for his big game on Sunday night at the Seattle Seahawks.
Cooper, who also won the award for his big-play performance at Jacksonville in Week 8, is the fifth player to win Defensive Player of the Week twice during his rookie season. He joins Brian Cushing (2009 with Texans), Shaquille Leonard (2018 with Colts), Nick Bosa (2019 with 49ers) and safety Kamren Kinchens (2024 with Rams).
The Defensive Player of the Week Award has been handed out since 1984. Cooper is the first Packers rookie to win the award twice, and the first Packers player to win it twice in a season since Clay Matthews during the Super Bowl season of 2010.
After missing three games with a hamstring injury, Cooper was superb in the blowout win over the Seahawks. He had one sack and one interception to go along with five tackles, two tackles for losses and two passes defensed.
According to the NFL, Cooper is the first rookie linebacker to record multiple tackles for losses and passes defensed in a game since Nick Kwiatkoski with the Bears in 2016.
“He did an outstanding job,” coach Matt LaFleur said on Tuesday. “Shoot, he was one of our defensive players of the game and he was also one of our special teams players of the game. He had three tackles on kickoff. That’s rare you see that type of production.
“So, it was cool to see. He’s a really talented guy. He did a great job in multiple other situations. On that screen play where they hit Jaxon Smith-Njigba out of the backfield, that was just an elite play by somebody that has elite athleticism.”
