Former Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper wasted no time making his presence felt in the Green Bay Packers’ season opener.
Even in a 39-22 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, Cooper turned in an elite showing in his third NFL season and looked like one of the most disruptive players on the field. His best moment came in the fourth quarter, when he burst through the middle of the offensive line for a sack and used his speed and instincts to take down Carson Wentz and the running back at the same time for a six-yard loss.
That kind of backfield damage showed up all game long. Cooper kept finding ways behind the line of scrimmage and gave Green Bay a much-needed jolt as a defender who was consistently around the football.
The strong opener came with Cooper already viewed as a player who could thrive under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. After posting 13 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as a rookie, he followed with 118 tackles in his second season, though that year came with just four tackles for loss and half a sack.
Week 1 hinted at a different kind of usage ahead, especially with star edge rusher Micah Parsons dealing with an injury. Cooper looks like the most natural player to move around the defense and create cleaner pass-rushing chances for Green Bay in 2026.
The Packers still have major issues to sort out after giving up 29 straight second-half points, but Cooper’s performance offered an early bright spot. It was a reminder that the former Aggie may be ready to take another step in Year 3.
In Other News...
Texas A&Ms SEC Opener Comes With One Kentucky Threat To Track
Kentuckys SEC opener against Texas A&M carries plenty of intrigue beyond the usual conference reset, and a lot of it starts with the change on the Wildcats sideline. With Mark Stoops era over and Will Stein now beginning to put his stamp on the program, the matchup offers an early look at how quickly Kentucky can adjust under a new head coach. It also adds another layer for the Aggies, who have to prepare for a team that is still taking shape but already has enough familiarity in its building to make this a tricky first conference test.
Jason Marcum of A Sea of Blue painted the picture as one of transition, from the coaching staff down to the players Kentucky will lean on early. For Texas A&M, the scouting report is not just about who lines up on Saturday but how shared coaching connections could shape the game plan on both sides. With a fresh staff in Lexington and a roster that still has a few clear names to track, the Aggies open SEC play facing a Kentucky team whose most interesting traits may be the ones still coming into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Texas A&M's Hot Start Just Raised The Pressure On Elko's Roster Bet
A 2-0 start has put Texas A&M in a much brighter early-season spot than many expected, especially after the Aggies handled Arizona State 48-20 with a pair of pick-six touchdowns from Marco Jones and Julio Humphrey. The fast climb to No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll and No. 9 in the AP Top 25 has only sharpened the spotlight on Mike Elkos roster-building approach, because this is what the investment was supposed to buy: a team that looks ready to matter in September, not just survive it.
According to data from The Athletic, Texas A&M reportedly spent about $45 million to $50 million in the offseason to keep key players and add more talent, and that figure now hangs over every strong result. The opening two games have done more than pad the record - they have raised the standard, and with SEC play underway against Kentucky, the question is no longer whether the Aggies have enough to compete, but how far this roster bet can carry them once the schedule turns serious. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Just Got A Concerning Injury Update On A Key Receiver
A wave of injury uncertainty is rolling through the SEC this week, and Oklahoma is among the teams feeling it most. With several programs juggling questionable and doubtful tags on both sides of the ball, availability is becoming as much a part of the game plan as formations and matchups, and that kind of disruption can ripple through a conference race quickly.
For the Sooners, the biggest concern centers on receiver Trell Harris, who has been ruled out indefinitely after suffering a severe internal abdominal injury. Losing a key target for an undefined stretch leaves Oklahoma with real questions in the passing game, and it adds another layer to a week already defined by health reports and shifting expectations across the league. [Read more 🡒]