Green Bay Packers place linebacker Edgerrin Cooper on injured reserve

The Green Bay Packers have officially placed star linebacker Edgerrin Cooper on injured reserve following a torn Achilles tendon sustained during a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Cooper had been performing at an All-Pro level during the 2026 season, recording three sacks, an interception, and 30 tackles in just over seven halves of football.

To fill the vacancy on the 53-man roster, the Packers promoted veteran linebacker Kristian Welch from the practice squad. Welch, a special teams specialist who has previously spent time with the organization, is expected to provide immediate depth to the linebacker room and special teams units.

Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon addressed the roster change, stating that the team will focus on how to deploy available players to positively impact games through collective unit success.