Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper Carted Off With Achilles Injury

The non-contact play on which Cooper was injured and the quick timeline along which he has been ruled have naturally led to fears of an Achilles tear. That injury would of course end Cooper’s 2026 campaign. It would also leave Green Bay without an impactful contributor on defense.

After arriving in 2024 as a second-round pick, Cooper was a part-time defender but he made an immediate impact in several categories. Last season, a full-time workload was in store and Cooper recorded 118 tackles and four pass deflections along with a pair of forced fumbles. Through his first three contests in 2026, the 24-year-old had already managed 21 stops and a pair of sacks.

Replacing that production will be challenging for a Packers team which fell short of expectations entering Sunday’s action. Green Bay’s defense is of course without All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons for the time being. Parsons opened the season on the reserve/PUP list, and he may not be on the field until November. Regardless of when a return takes place on that front, Cooper will be sidelined for the rest of the campaign if he did indeed tear his Achilles today.

Zaire Franklin and Isaiah McDuffie are present at the linebacker spot for Green Bay. The Packers also have Nick Niemann and Ty’Ron Hopper on the depth chart at this point. The team has been busy in pursuing offensive line acquisitions recently, working out three guard additions. Green Bay still has roughly $8.5MM in cap space at this point, so a low-cost depth addition through free agency or trade could be feasible.

Cooper’s attention will turn to a lengthy recovery period presuming testing confirms the worst-case scenario. His rookie contract runs through 2027, and an extension could be worked out as early as this coming offseason. A major ailment such as an Achilles injury could complicate any contract negotiations, though.