The Green Bay Packers have made a roster move after losing linebacker Edgerrin Cooper to a season-ending injury.
Green Bay placed Cooper on injured reserve and signed veteran linebacker Kristian Welch to the 53-man roster, according to NFL insider Aaron Wilson. The Packers also added running back Damon Bankston to the practice squad.
The moves come after Cooper suffered an Achilles injury during Green Bay’s 17-14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Cooper’s injury is a significant blow for a Packers defense that had relied on his speed and playmaking ability. The young linebacker had recorded 30 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks through the opening portion of the season, according to the information provided.
He also made an impact against Tampa Bay before suffering the injury, recording nine tackles, a sack and an interception. Losing that production leaves Green Bay with a major hole at linebacker.
The Packers will now look toward Isaiah McDuffie and other available linebackers to help absorb Cooper’s workload. McDuffie’s experience should provide some stability, while Welch’s addition gives the team another option for defensive and special teams depth.
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Green Bay enters the next stretch of its schedule at 2-2, making the timing of Cooper’s injury especially frustrating. The Packers are trying to keep pace in a competitive NFC North and cannot afford for one injury to create further problems.
The roster move gives Green Bay some immediate depth, but replacing Cooper’s production will be a much bigger challenge. His absence will test the Packers’ linebacker group and defensive scheme for the remainder of the season.
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