Eagles are using star rookie Darius Cooper in ways fans won’t believe

It was a whirlwind summer for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper.

It’s one thing for an undrafted rookie from an FCS program like Tarleton State to receive a training camp invite from the reigning Super Bowl champions. It’s another for that player to emerge as a fan favorite, crush every opportunity, and earn a spot on the initial 53-man roster.

Cooper was easily the Eagles’ most celebrated player on cut-down day. The 23-year-old balled out in Philly’s preseason opener with six receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown. After he made the roster, fans wondered if he could push No. 3 wide receiver Jahan Dotson in short order.

Interestingly enough, Dotson saw a noticeable decrease in playing during Philly's Week 2 game at the Kansas City Chiefs. Cooper saw an uptick; per Pro Football Focus, he climbed from two offensive snaps in Week 1, to 12 in the Chiefs game.

Fans will need to temper any excitement over Cooper’s pending breakout game, though. His usage against Kansas City was worthy of a double-take.

Rookie WR Darius Cooper has earned an intriguing role on the Philadelphia Eagles’ signature play

The Eagles have been the embodiment of “wins over stats” coming off last year’s Super Bowl run, and Cooper is the latest example. The youngster is clearly willing to do anything needed to get on the field, and his increased workload against the Chiefs should be filed in one category — dirty work.

It’s no secret that the Eagles ran seven tush-push plays with quarterback Jalen Hurts at Kansas City. One of those plays led to a critical touchdown in the fourth quarter, giving Philly a 10-point lead with 7:48 remaining. Another led to a late first down that allowed the Eagles to run out the clock for a 20-17 win.

Cooper was heavily involved in those plays, with an assignment that had nothing to do with catching the football. Instead, the rookie’s job was to push the tush of right tackle Lane Johnson, helping Hurts surge forward in the sea of bodies.

While Cooper’s 12 offensive snaps were notable on paper, the positional breakdown from PFF adds significant context. Ten of Cooper’s reps were running plays, and seven of them saw him flanking Johnson’s backside in Philly’s trademark QB sneak formation.

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With the Eagles’ passing game struggling once again this season, it’s fair for fans to question where Cooper stands in the pecking order behind A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith in Dotson. For now, even with tight end Dallas Goedert dealing with a knee injury, the 190-pound Cooper is earning his stripes more as a blocker than receiver through two games.