Entering Sunday's game against the Titans, second-year wide receiver Darius Cooper had 10 catches in the NFL to his name – nine from the 2025 regular season for 91 yards, and one catch for 9 yards and a first down in the Eagles' Wild Card matchup against the 49ers.
The only undrafted rookie to make the roster in 2025 has been praised by Head Coach Nick Sirianni throughout his time with the Eagles for doing the little things right, his effort on special teams, and for his willingness to get his hands dirty in the blocking game. While Cooper did not record any targets in the season opener against the Commanders, the former Tarleton State wide receiver led the Eagles on special teams with four tackles.
Cooper's first catch of the season came in the fourth quarter against the Titans on a first-and-17. He turned a 5-yard dig route into a 23-yard gain as he broke into the secondary.
Cooper's number was called again at Tennessee's 3-yard line as the Eagles went for a game-winning touchdown. We take a look here in the Official Review, Driven by AAA! Make sure to visit AAA.com/eagles to sign up today!
"I was on the bench and I was just talking to myself," Cooper said. "Positive affirmations like, 'Hey, I'm worthy. We can do this. If the ball come my way, we going to make the play.' Just talking to myself, just telling myself I'm capable."
Down three points with 14 seconds left, the Eagles' offense lined up in a bunch formation with Cooper, DeVonta Smith, and tight end Johnny Mundt together on the right side of the field, while Makai Lemon was the lone receiver wide left. Running back Will Shipley was to the left of Jalen Hurts in an offset shotgun formation.
The team had run the play multiple times in practice. Cooper said his role on that play is usually to spring Smith free.
Things don't always go how they are drawn out.
The Titans' defense showed an all-out blitz presnap with seven players at the line of scrimmage. When Hurts snapped the ball, safety Kevin Winston Jr. and linebacker Cody Barton joined three defensive linemen in the pass rush while defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. dropped into coverage.
Safety Amani Hooker tracked Mundt left while cornerbacks Marcus Harris and Micah Robinson were assigned to Cooper and Smith. Harris bit on Smith's out route, avoiding Cooper who ran the route intended for a pick. Then, Smith tripped.
"We all have a role on different plays," Smith said of the play. "Sometimes my role is to pick for those guys and (Cooper) was always ready for his moment. In that play in particular, I fell down and he was wide open, so he was ready."
Shipley picked up the blitzing Barton as Hurts rolled right. Robinson had not tracked Cooper, falling into coverage near the back right corner of the end zone seemingly in anticipation of Smith. Cooper ran wide open back towards the middle of the end zone. On the run, Hurts let it fly.
"The ball was moving. Once I got off my break, I just saw it floating," Cooper said. "It was literally like everything just stopped. It was just slow motion.
"I just wanted to make sure I caught it. That's why I jumped for it, but it was a great throw. (Hurts) put it right where it needed to be."
Cooper made sure he got both feet down before he fell out of the back of the end zone. He got his right foot down then dragged the left. Touchdown Eagles with nine seconds left, a 23-20 lead pending the extra point.
"It was just a great play call by Coach Sean (Mannion)," Cooper said. "He put us in the right positions and we executed how we were supposed to. I went in when I was supposed to. We got the job done."
Just like that, Cooper's first career NFL touchdown was a game-winner to advance the Eagles to a 2-0 start on the season. The special teams gunner didn't even have a celebration planned.
"It was just crazy. I didn't even know what to do. I tried to spin the ball. The spin was terrible. I need to stop doing that. So, I'm probably not going to spin the ball anymore. I'm going to just drop it," Cooper said after the game.
"I just celebrated (with) my teammates, man. I looked at the crowd, saw them going crazy, gave my little clap. That's all I had in me. I didn't even know what to do."
Cooper usually helps the team win in other ways that don't get headline recognition. On special teams, run blocking, clearing out defenders on routes for other receivers, and more.
"Cooper comes in every day. He works hard, man. Anytime, no matter who's coming out, somebody needs one, he's going to come in," Smith said. "He's always willing to take those extra reps. His hard work in the run game paid off today."
Sirianni has called former Eagles wide receiver Zach Pascal one of his favorite players to coach because of his dirty work off the ball. Cooper reminds Sirianni of Pascal.
"We're going to continue to need (Cooper) to play his role and excel at his role, and he's accepted his role, and he's starring in his role at this particular time," Sirianni said. "Good teams have guys that know their role and accept it. Great teams have guys that star in their role, and Darius Cooper has done that."
– Written by Caroline Connor
