Young linebacker tops list of players Packers need more from moving forward 1 Green Bay Packers defensive end Edgerrin Cooper (56) is shown is shown before organized team activities Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Young linebacker tops list of players Packers need more from moving forward

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Matt Lombardo | Last updated Oct 3, 2025 3:15 PM ET

Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper was an unexpected superstar and one of Green Bay’s most dominant players as a rookie in 2024, but his 2025 campaign has gotten off to a sluggish start.

Through the season’s first four weeks, Cooper has produced 33 total tackles but posted just half a sack, despite Micah Parsons’ presence commanding significant attention from opposing offensive linemen.

Packers need more from Edgerrin Cooper

As the Packers return from the bye week next Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, Cooper is among the players that Green Bay needs much more from the rest of the season.

“According to Pro Football Focus, 61 linebackers have played at least 150 defensive snaps this season,” Packers on SI’s Bill Huber writes. “Cooper has the sixth-highest missed-tackle rate at 23.3 percent. No player in the NFL has missed more tackles than Cooper’s 10, including three on Sunday against the Cowboys. Sports Info Solutions has Cooper with 11 misses this season after missing 16 all of last season.

“Last year, Cooper led all off-the-ball linebackers with 13 tackles for losses. This season, he has zero.”

If the Packers’ defense is going to be the disruptive force it appeared to be through the first two weeks of the season, the rest of the way, and Cooper is going to make strides on his stellar rookie campaign, he’s going to need to be more disruptive in opposing backfields starting after the bye.

Packers' Edgerrin Cooper is off to insane start to 2025 NFL season 2 Sep 22, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (56) sneaks a peak into the backfield against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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