Green Bay Packers rookie linebacker Edgerrin Cooper has been named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month for December and January, another accolade for his outstanding first season in the NFL.
Cooper, a second-round draft pick out of Texas A&M, was NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 8 and NFC Defensive Player of the Week in Week 15.
Cooper is the first Packers rookie to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month honors since Damarious Randall in November 2015.
After missing the Packers’ first game in December with a hamstring injury, Cooper finished the final four weeks of the regular season as competent as any defensive player in football. He made 35 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, three quarterback hits, an interception, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery.
Cooper ranked 10th among all players in tackles and first in tackles for loss over the last four weeks.
In Week 15, Cooper had a sack, an interception, two tackles for loss and a pass defended to aid the Packers defeat the Seattle Seahawks 30-13. In Week 16, Cooper had a career-high four tackles in a loss to the Minnesota Vikings. At the end of the season, he recorded one defeat in all four matches.
In terms of Pro Football Focus overall grade, Cooper led all defensive players with an overall grade of 91.4 in Weeks 15-18. He also led all defensive players with 19 stops or a tackle for a loss on offense.
On Sunday, Cooper and the Packers will face Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card round.
