Training camp creates expectations. That's no surprise to any Philadelphia Eagles fan. Second-year wide receiver Darius Cooper spent the past several weeks building plenty of them.
He has consistently appeared in practice reports. He has developed a noticeable rapport with Jalen Hurts
and earned praise from coaches and reporters for his hands, route-running, and willingness to make plays in traffic. The significant question is whether he can survive a crowded wide receiver competition.Then came the preseason opener. Let's say it wasn't great. Cooper caught two passes for 21 yards on five targets in Philadelphia's 24-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. He also had a couple of plays where the chemistry between him and Andy Dalton appeared slightly
off, including an incomplete third-down pass and a target that bounced off his hands.
That's not the standard Cooper established during camp. The Eagles have to be better than they were against Baltimore, and Cooper is part of that equation.
Philadelphia's offense struggled to sustain drives throughout the night, and its quarterbacks rarely found enough rhythm to put receivers in advantageous situations consistently. The Eagles finished with just six first downs and 159 total yards, making it difficult to isolate any individual player's performance from the broader offensive problems.
Still, Cooper has to know that two catches for 21 yards isn't enough. The expectation now is that he can become the kind of receiver the Eagles trust when a drive needs to stay alive, particularly on third down. Those are the opportunities that matter when roster decisions are made, and regular-season roles begin to take shape. The good news is that one game doesn't erase several weeks of evidence.
Darius Cooper still has time to reinforce the trust he's earned
Cooper has already demonstrated that he can compete with established NFL defensive backs. He's beaten talented teammates during camp reps. He's made contested catches with defenders draped around him. More importantly, he has shown enough consistency that Jalen Hurts and the coaching staff have looked his way repeatedly.
That trust is earned over time. A preseason opener doesn't erase it. There is still time for Cooper to make his mark. Philadelphia has more preseason football ahead, along with additional practices and joint work that will create opportunities to get back to the standard he established throughout camp.
The Eagles don't need Cooper to be perfect. They need him to show that the player who kept making plays in practice is still there when the lights come on. His Baltimore performance wasn't encouraging. It also wasn't definitive. For Darius Cooper, the next opportunity is already more important than the last one.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Darius Cooper faces pivotal response after quiet Eagles preseason opener
