The snaps on offense haven't been there for Philadelphia Eagles wideout Darius Cooper, but that hasn't prevented the second-year man out of Tarleton State from making an impact on special teams through one week of regular-season action.
The undrafted wideout, who once again impressed all summer long in his second training camp, made a mighty strong impression in the Week 1 win over Washington, serving as a gunner on special teams.
Darius Cooper shined on special teams for Eagles in Week 1
Cooper led all special teams players on the afternoon with four tackles, while notching 21 snaps overall in the third phase. Offensively, he saw eight snaps, while rookie Makai Lemon saw 35 snaps against Washington. Yes, it was only one game, but Lemon's debut left much to be desired in terms of production.
Lemon's Week 1 output was graded very low, as Pro Football Focus handed him a mark of 54.9, ranking him 54th out of 62 wide receivers. The hamstring issue that forced the first-rounder to miss so much action is finally behind him, but Lemon could use more time to acclimate in this new-look Philly offense.
With the former USC standout still struggling to ramp up and make his own mark, Cooper deserves an extended look in certain packages from offensive coordinator Sean Mannion in the interim. And according to his teammates, Cooper is clearly ready for prime time.
Darius Cooper's Eagles teammates know he's ready for expanded role
Back in training camp, cornerback Riq Woolen expressed his sentiments on Cooper, whom he not only observes but also goes toe-to-toe with daily in practice.
"Coop is a great receiver, man,” Woolen said. “I felt like that whole room - they feed off each other. He continues to grow. I know I got here in OTAs; until now, every rep I’ve gone against him, there’s no shortage of hard work. "
“He always goes 100%, and whenever you go against him, you know you’re going to get a great look. Coop is a great receiver, and to be able to go against him and battle with him and see him grow throughout training camp is a lot of fun.”
Cooper's growth is evident. His hunger to make plays in whatever capacity is obvious, as he excels in his special teams role. Fans see it when he comes racing downfield and drops the hammer as a gunner.
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It's time to get him involved in this offense a bit more, as it will not only add a new element but also help ease Lemon into his role on game days. Cooper has earned the right to get looks from Hurts, and now Mannion has to make it happen.
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