Green Bay’s defense ranked 11th in points allowed last season, down from sixth in 2024 but understandable given some of the injuries the team endured.
Defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt tore his fibula and tore a ligament in his ankle on Thanksgiving, and two weeks later All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons tore his ACL. They will both recover and be reinstated, but others in the defense face uncertainty.
Quay Walker, Cooper’s partner at interior linebacker and the only Packer to record more tackles in 2025, is an impending free agent. Pass rusher Rashan Gary then posted a deleted goodbye message on social media, after which multiple sources reported that his Instagram account had been hacked. Regardless of how the fake came about, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero reported that all options are still on the table and that Gary has been the subject of trade talks. There are also depth pieces on defense like Kingsley Enagbare and offensive contributors like wide receiver Romeo Doubs and offensive tackle Rasheed Walker headed for the free agent market.
Cooper, even-tempered as can be, will face the next week of chaos without a partner with faith in the club to manage it in the best possible way.
“At the end of the day, you have to trust the organization,” Cooper said. “You’ve got to control what you can control. It’s a business, man. There’s tough things that happen throughout the process, and you’ve just got to get over it and it’s just got to be the next thing. Gotta refocus and be there for the team and do what you’ve got to do.”
With any luck, that faith will be rewarded with a roster capable of making a fourth straight playoff appearance.