Darius Cooper gains national media attention at Eagles training camp
Undrafted receiver Darius Cooper is standing out at Eagles training camp and earning praise from national media.
Training camp sees the emergence of new talent every year. Paul Turner's recent recap of the Eagles' preseason serves as a reminder of this phenomenon. Yet, some players manage to stand out during brief appearances in Philadelphia's practices, while others fade into obscurity. Darius Cooper, a second-year receiver who joined the Eagles as an undrafted rookie last offseason, seems to be gravitating towards the latter category.
The Eagles welcomed Cooper with open arms last season and he was eventually granted a roster spot. This time around, he entered camp amidst intense competition at wide receiver, with newcomers Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore, and Dontayvion Wicks capturing much of the attention. Rookie Makai Lemon also garnered significant media coverage, yet his progress has been hampered by a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Cooper has consistently displayed his skills and earned the respect of his teammates.
His rise has gone from local buzz to national news. Cooper has been a frequent topic of conversation in camp reports throughout the summer, with reporters highlighting his chemistry with quarterback Jalen Hurts, his ability to make contested catches, and his reliability in traffic situations. ESPN's Tim McManus recently noted Cooper as the top performer during the early stages of training camp. Cooper's performance is noteworthy considering the depth of the Eagles' receiver corps.
Cooper has not only filled the spots left vacant by injured teammates DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon but has also outperformed them in reports. His strong hands, willingness to go over the middle, and rapport with Jalen Hurts have earned him the trust of his quarterback. However, the Eagles' quarterback room remains one of the NFL's deepest, with many other talented players vying for limited opportunities.
Cooper's name is frequently mentioned alongside the Eagles' established offensive stars, but everyone understands that performance in camp does not guarantee a spot on the team.
The conversation surrounding Cooper has shifted from whether he can make the team to how much of a role he will play if he does make the roster. This is a significant change that is likely to be noticed beyond the NovaCare Complex. If the national media continues to praise Cooper, the rest of the football world may soon take notice.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
