GREEN BAY, Wis. – On third-and-11 in the fourth quarter Sunday, Green Bay Packers rookie Edgerrin Cooper raced 40 yards down the field to break up a pass to star receiver Christian Kirk.

Is it rare for a linebacker to make this type of play?

“I did it a lot,” said linebackers coach Anthony Campanile, who played at Rutgers two decades earlier. “I feel like I’ve done that a lot in my (career).

“No, I’m just kidding,” he said with a hearty laugh.

Cooper, who on back-to-back fourth-quarter series against the Jaguars had a putback/sack and a sensational pass breakup, was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week on Tuesday. He is the first Packers rookie to win Defensive Player of the Week since Clay Matthews in 2009.

Coach Matt LaFleur told Cooper during a team meeting Wednesday morning.

“Yes, it means something to me, but the way I see it, if I do my job well, all of this is going to happen,” Cooper said. “Just focus on what I need to do, go for it, don’t make any mistakes, go out there and make plays and all that stuff comes to me.”

Cooper, a second-round pick in this year’s draft, had eight tackles and two game-tying plays in a 30-27 victory. On the second play of the fourth quarter, a third-and-7, Cooper blitzed, eventually forced his way through the line and released the ball from Trevor Lawrence. The Packers cashed in for a touchdown and a 27-17 lead.

On third down of the next series, Cooper used remarkable catching speed to break up Lawrence’s deep shot to Kirk.

Which room did he prefer?

“Oh, 100% the sack-fumble,” he said. “It’s a great feeling here.”

It was a logical response because the turnover turned into a touchdown. However, the break was a remarkable athletic feat.

On third down from the 29, Cooper lined up over center at the 30-yard line. In an instant, he took a few steps forward to force the Jaguars offensive line to explain its blitz. However, he turned around and pursued Kirk, who was about 5 meters ahead at one point.

Lawrence’s pass was good, but Cooper – who was called “Flash” as a child – closed the gap between him and Kirk with every step. Kirk jumped for the ball around the Green Bay 35 and had the ball in his hands. However, as Kirk headed to the turf, Cooper released the ball.

It’s been a long, long time since the Packers have had a linebacker with this type of athletic ability.

“There is a first time for everything. That’s what I’m here for,” Cooper said.

Campanile called it a “super-athletic play,” but there was more to it than God-given speed.

“He did a really, really good job on the details,” Campanile said. “If you look at this piece, there’s a lot of detail in the finishing, so the execution of what he did throughout the piece is certainly impressive. But the ending is something that, to me, is a tremendous compliment to his effort and tenacity to finish the piece the way he did.

“I just thought it was a hell of a play. It really was. A difficult game to make, that’s for sure. Athletically, it takes a special athlete to do that, but he definitely had the right mentality to go out there and finish, trying to get the ball out.

Campanile knew what Cooper was capable of. At Texas A&M, he was a devastating All-American who led the SEC in tackles for loss. At the Scouting Combine, he ran his 40 in 4.51 seconds.

“In his college tape, you’re like, ‘Wow, he’s an explosive, super talented guy,’” Campanile said.

The Packers took him slowly. After playing a total of 18 snaps in the first two games and 18 snaps in the third game, Cooper has played about 60% of the snaps in each of the last three games.

The more snaps he plays, the better he plays. The better he played, the more snaps he received.

“I’ve said it before, maybe I’ve said it ad nauseum here, but the eyes, the feet, the hands, a violent finish,” Campanile said. “And when your eyes are straight, your feet will be straight. Your feet are good, your hands will be good. And then, at the end of each play, there has to be a violent ending. At the point of attack, this must happen.

“Whether you’re breaking a block, finishing a tackle, breaking up a drive in zone coverage, rushing the passer or finishing in zone coverage, there has to be a violent finish. And usually this determines whether the outcome of the game is positive or negative. But I think his eyes have improved a lot and because of that he has a lot of production. »

The Packers have been looking for a linebacker for years.

De’Vondre Campbell was All-Pro in 2021 but couldn’t maintain such a high level of play. Matthews was a dominant outside linebacker who moonlighted as an inside linebacker in 2014 and 2015. The last true off-ball linebacker to be a Pro Bowler was AJ Hawk in 2010.

Cooper has that kind of potential. He’s only played about 40 percent of the snaps, but he’s second on the team with 2.5 sacks and third with five tackles for loss.

Among all rookie off-ball linebackers, he is second in tackles (38, including special teams), first in sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (five), and tied for first in passes defended (two).

On Wednesday, he earned his first NFL honor.

“I just go out there and play,” he said. “It’s not really something I’m looking forward to. If that happens, great, but we still have things I want to do with the team, so I just have to go from there.

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