PACKERS LINEBACKER EDGERRIN COOPER RULED OUT WITH ACHILLES INJURY

Green Bay Packers linebacker Edgerrin Cooper was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after sustaining what was described as a non-contact injury. Cooper went down with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter and had to be carted off the field. The Packers subsequently ruled him out for the remainder of the match with an Achilles injury. Reports following the game said the club fears Cooper suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Head coach Matt LaFleur described the injury as "not good" when speaking to reporters afterwards, according to those reports.

Before leaving the field, Cooper had recorded nine tackles, a sack, a quarterback hit, an interception and a pass defensed during the game. The injury occurred on a play in which Packers safety Xavier McKinney sacked Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels. Reports described Cooper as an emerging figure in the Packers' defence this season. Later in the contest, the Packers led the Buccaneers 17-14 after Daniels threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Gainwell, the undrafted rookie's first career touchdown pass.

Reports said the injury raises doubt over Cooper's availability for the rest of the season should the suspected torn Achilles be confirmed. The Packers had not provided a full diagnosis beyond ruling him out of Sunday's match. His absence would affect a Green Bay defence in which reports said he had become an increasingly important contributor. The game between the two sides continued with the Packers holding a 17-14 advantage following Daniels' touchdown pass to Gainwell.