GREEN BAY – Micah Parsons isn't only an All-Pro defensive lineman. He's also a fantasy football aficionado.
Playing in a league with an individual defensive player format, the recently acquired Packers pass rusher drafted the usual variety of skill-position players – including Green Bay receiver Jayden Reed – before surprising a few of his friends with a defensive selection.
His brand-new teammate in Green Bay: Edgerrin Cooper.
"They saw me pick up Coop and they were like, 'What do you know?'" Parsons said. "Because I'm watching practice and I'm seeing everything we've got dialed in and what we're putting in, and so I started him."
The second-year linebacker rewarded Parsons' belief with 36 fantasy points during a 27-13 romp of the defending NFC North champion Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field.
After making a name for himself while pressuring the quarterback as a rookie in 2024, Cooper showed Sunday his athleticism and explosiveness also translate to stopping the run.
Cooper was nothing short of sensational against the Lions, recording a career-high 12 tackles (eight solo). It was the third time in the 23-year-old linebacker's last four regular-season games he's eclipsed double-digit tackles.
Even on the plays Cooper didn't have a tackle, he still made an impact. The 6-foot-2, 229-pound linebacker spun running back Jahmyr Gibbs around at the line of scrimmage early in the third quarter, allowing cornerback Keisean Nixon to drop him for a 6-yard loss.
Overall, Pro Football Focus credited Cooper with eight stops, which are defined as tackles creating failure for the offense. Meanwhile, Detroit's 46 rushing yards were its fewest since a 40-yard performance against Tampa Bay in Week 6 of the 2023 season.
Cooper's performance not only helped Parsons win his fantasy game but also frustrated the Lions' one-two backfield punch of David Montgomery and Gibbs, who gained just 93 total yards on a whopping 34 touches.
"We just lined up and tried to be more physical than them," Cooper said. "Just do our assignment and it's a man-to-man ball game, so just trying to whup the man in front of you and just gotta win every snap."
The Packers' run defense entered the season with a lot of questions about how it would respond to the absence of three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who was traded to Dallas with two-first round picks for Parsons.
The unit passed its first test against the Lions, tying Cleveland for the fewest rushing yards allowed in Week 1 (46). However, a new challenge awaits Thursday night against Washington.
Leading the way for the Commanders are veteran Austin Ekeler and rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt, a seventh-round pick out of New Mexico who paced Washington with 82 rushing yards on just 10 carries in its 21-6 win over the New York Giants.
The Commanders finished with the second-most rushing yards in Week 1 (220) thanks to reigning quarterback Jayden Daniels adding 68 yards on 11 scrambles and Deebo Samuel's 19-yard reverse for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Packers counter with Cooper, veteran linebacker Quay Walker and a deep Green Bay defense that played with as much as fire and passion as it did speed in the win over the Lions.
"I thought he did a lot of great things," said Head Coach Matt LaFleur of Cooper. "The entire defense, the urgency at which we played with, I feel like it's the best I've seen from our group since I've been here. It was inspiring to me to watch those guys go out and play. And I think when you get like that, it's contagious."
The cat is mostly out of the bag with Cooper at this point. He made the PFWA All-Rookie Team last season after racking up 87 tackles with seven quarterback hits, 3½ sacks, two fumble recoveries and an interception in just 14 games with four starts.
After the Packers traded for Parsons two weeks ago, Cooper was widely viewed as one of the playmakers who stood to benefit the most from Green Bay adding the uber-versatile pass rusher.
But Parsons sees it the other way around. Having versatile players like Cooper around makes his life easier, too. It also doesn't hurt to have him on his fantasy squad, either.
Parsons has the screenshots to prove it, too, which he posted on his Instagram story Tuesday evening. With the 2025 season officially underway, the four-time Pro Bowler is expecting big things from his fantasy linebacker this season.
"I just had a feeling," said Parsons when asked about drafting Cooper. "I know he's part of my starting lineup, and I expect that type of tenacity and effort every single game."
Both Cooper and Parsons said they are excited for Thursday night's matchup with the Commanders, which will feature the Packers wearing their all-white "Winter Warning" uniforms.
After being met by a thunderous ovation each time he stepped on the field against the Lions, Parsons wants to feel that same type of energy from the Lambeau Field crowd again.
"It's crazy momentum for us. We all feel it on defense," Parsons said. "The crowd has to understand, you started something, it's something you have to finish. We're playing for that now.
"So, Pack (fans), we need you. We need that energy this Thursday and the rest of the year because it's contagious. It's contagious. We feel it. You guys feel it. So just keep that going."
