With a change at quarterback, the Philadelphia Eagles now have to lean on Darius Cooper to step up as one of their main guys.
The Eagles are handing the offense to Tanner McKee after Jalen Hurts was ruled out for Week 6 against the Carolina Panthers with a blood clot. McKee is set to make his third career start, and the first that didn't happen in a Week 18 game.
Despite the DeVonta Smith injury, Cooper has remained heavily involved in the offense, leading the team with four touchdown catches. Philly can no longer leave Cooper out of the offensive game plan for long, as he is about to become the unit's most important piece.
Darius Cooper could be in for a monster game in Week 6 for the Eagles
Over the last few weeks, Cooper has been playing more snaps with Smith out, but that hasn't led to many more targets. He has 13 targets, catching seven of them for 130 yards and four touchdowns in five games.
Dontayvion Wicks has been getting more looks, which makes sense since he and Hurts have had great chemistry since training camp. Hurts and Cooper have also built their chemistry over the last two years, but the McKee element changes everything.
Now McKee needs to build some rapport with Wicks. McKee and Cooper are already well positioned to work together.
Over the last two preseasons, McKee and Cooper have played more with each other than Hurts and Cooper. In practice, Cooper Inmore often catches the ball from McKee, so their chemistry is already there.
That should lead to more targets for Cooper, which in turn means more production from the second-year receiver who's earned it. Last week's 19-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars showed what happens when the Eagles give the ball to Cooper, who caught a 62-yard touchdown pass. Even in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Rams, he caught two first-half touchdown passes.
Cooper has the skill set, but this Eagles offense hasn't gotten him involved enough. It's always either Smith, Wicks, or Dallas Goedert. Cooper is playing second fiddle to the rest, and while that's understandable, he needs more looks.
Rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon gets more targets than Cooper, and he has only 108 yards for the season. The Eagles have tried Lemon in the passing game, but Cooper is more productive per catch.
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McKee will need all the help he can get on the Eagles' offense, and having a familiar face like Cooper in the huddle will help. Watch for the young receiver to be more involved with the unit, regardless of Smith's status for Week 6.
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