Amari Cooper is still among the elite in the National Football League at wide receiver.
He got traded from the Dallas Cowboys to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-round picks, but Cooper has found a rhythm in returning to the AFC. As a South Florida native, he started his career in the AFC as he got selected at No. 4 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders (now Las Vegas Raiders). Cooper played 52 games for the Raiders from 2015 to 2018 — totaling two 1,000-yard seasons, 19 touchdown receptions, and two Pro Bowl appearances. He made two Pro Bowls for the Cowboys (2018, 2019) and had two 1,000+ yard receiving campaigns in 56 games. Cooper dealt with a few injuries in his career, but he is now healthy. He’s turned in back-to-back 100-yard outings for the Browns, who are 2-1 this season.
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Cooper posted a game-high 101 yards receiving on Thursday Night Football with a touchdown on seven catches against the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a veteran, he showed off his excellent routes, speed, hands, and savviness — averaging 14.4 yards per reception against a good secondary. Jacoby Brissett targeted Cooper 11 times in Cleveland’s 29-17 victory at home.
Coop’s route running goes crazyyy
📺: #PITvsCLE on @PrimeVideo and @WEWS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/zXAKix5x9b pic.twitter.com/XwiOqqlaii— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 23, 2022
Jacoby delivers a strike!
📺: #PITvsCLE on @PrimeVideo and @WEWS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/zXAKix5x9b pic.twitter.com/SdHErujEgY— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 23, 2022
Amari in for the score!! 🙌
📺: #PITvsCLE on @PrimeVideo and @WEWS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/zXAKix5x9b pic.twitter.com/VdFqzHSnjC— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 23, 2022
He won the Fred Biletnikoff Award, earned Unanimous All-American honors, made first-team All-SEC, and won a BCS National Championship in three years (2012-14) at the University of Alabama.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
