Amari Cooper Injury Update: What It Means for the Browns’ Playoff Hopes
Cleveland Browns fans have long been starving for consistent success. But in a 2023 NFL season that has shown flashes of brilliance from this franchise, with a real good mix of strong defense, promising coaching, and a revamped offense, the question became: Could it really be so?. Certainly, the player who has made all the difference for a postseason berth in pursuit is wide receiver Amari Cooper. Cooper is a four-time Pro Bowler because of his polished route-running and consistent plays. Recently, an injury to Cooper cast shadows over the prospects of the Browns’ achieving a march to the playoffs. It has fans and analysts asking just how significant this one player’s absence will be.
Who is Amari Cooper to the Browns?
Since coming over from the Dallas Cowboys that trade in 2022, Amari Cooper has really been an offense cornerstone to the Browns. His veteran status and ability to make plays really made him fit the bill as the team’s No. 1 receiver off the bat. In his first season with Cleveland, he didn’t disappoint, leading the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. His availability as a number one target makes him invaluable at such key times in a game such as third down conversion and red zone opportunities for the Cleveland offense.
Cooper’s presence impacts far more than his own number of touches. The threat he presents requires defenses to respond to, creating one-on-one opportunities for Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Njoku. Without Cooper, that balance is reset, threatening to blow up the entire functioning of the offense.
The Nature of Amari Cooper’s Injury
With injuries as a common occurrence in football, the fact that they will hit an important player like Amari Cooper will really make things go terribly wrong. Sources have said that he did sustain a lower-body injury that happened in the latter part of the season, which may make him miss some more games. Injury details are not yet confirmed by sources, but it seems the Browns’ star receiver will be out of commission for some time.
The scope of the injury is still being evaluated, but preliminary signs point to it being possibly severe enough to keep Cooper out for more games than one. A blow for a team which is still pushing for a playoff run, losing this player would be tremendous for such a team. Any real length of time that Cooper sits, if this proves serious, would force the Browns to be overly dramatic in changing up their offensive flow.
How will the Browns adjust their offense without Cooper?
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski often talks about balance in calling plays. This becomes crucial for them because in game plans, there will certainly be a concern on establishing the running game efficiently while providing instances where they can complete passes to keep defenses less predictably focused on stopping the running game. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was brought to Cleveland during the offseason, and it had really started to evolve as he developed his first rounds of consistency with the Browns offense. Obviously, Cooper had so much to do with that process. Watson’s chemistry with Cooper is growing, and the receiver has been Cleveland’s go-to guy for big plays.
Without Cooper, the Browns will be forced to depend more on their other receivers, such as Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore, and rookie Cedric Tillman. Peoples-Jones has flashed at times but hasn’t shown the consistency or polish that Cooper brings to the field. Similarly, Moore, acquired in the offseason, still gets some solid time playing into the Browns’ offense and may be asked to up their production significantly to help make up for Cooper’s short turnaround.
It is going to be a position that will play huge roles for the tight ends, as well. David Njoku has been a consistent target for Watson and will likely see his numbers go up as they look for another source of offense in the passing game. What should somewhat soften the blow of Cooper’s loss is Njoku’s ability to present a viable option working the middle of the field; however, it will not come close to replacing what Cooper brings to the table.
In some ways, that could bode well for the Browns’ running game, which has been the bedrock of the franchise for so long. The team has a dedicated workhorse in running back Nick Chubb, and as it played without Cooper last season, it may be even more dependent on riding Chubb’s legs to control the clock and keep the defense fresh. This could also work to the Browns’ advantage as opposing teams will naturally be jamming up the box to stop the run, knowing that without Cooper, the Browns are severely outgunned as an attacking force through the air.
The Deshaun Watson Wildcard
Yet another huge factor with regards to the chances of the Browns making the playoffs is if quarterback Deshaun Watson can thrive without his No. 1 receiver. Watson has missed a large portion of the 2021 season and a portion of the 2022 season, but during his time in Houston, he showed the kind of play that gets you the Pro Bowl quarterback distinction. But through his first two games for Cleveland, Watson has shown glimpses of that vintage form, and the blow of losing Cooper may further hamper the possibility of such levels of performance.
Watson is used to being around the best of the best so his loss has hit the passing game in Cleveland with Cooper gone. Now, however, Watson will be tasked with working more quickly with a rebuilt receiving corps. This spells some near-term pains for the offense, which looks to readjust on the fly.
If Watson can get the other receivers to step up, then the Browns may still be competitive in terms of passing attack. But if he fails without Cooper, it might result in inconsistency, which will ultimately cause the Browns to lose some games, most importantly, to stiffer foes. They need Deshaun Watson to play superbly when Cooper is away for multiple games for them to keep a glimmer of hope alive in the playoffs.
The Impact on the Browns’ Playoff Chances
The NFL season is nothing but a grind, and every game weighs heavily against any team wanting to reach the playoffs. This is especially true for teams in a high-powered AFC North division like the Browns, with teams the likes of the Baltimore Ravens, the Cincinnati Bengals, and Pittsburgh Steelers. All three teams are well-fortified on defense and bring power punches on offense, so room for error is slim.
For an extended period, losing Cooper will make the rest of the season even tougher to work through. His presence was most glaring in a game against the teams whose secondary was strong, a game in which he can create separation and make contested catches. He may not ever consistently move the chains through the air if he is gone for a while, resulting in stalled drives and fewer scoring opportunities.
Every game matters in the playoff race, and one prolonged poor stretch offensively would worry the Browns. Even a brief losing streak could knock the Browns out of playoff contention because the AFC is stacked. A relatively minor injury to Cooper could lead to a worst-case scenario if the Browns don’t adapt quickly.
Potential Solutions for the Browns
In the short term, they may adjust their offence system to use more of their running backs and tight ends, as discussed earlier. However, they also may look outward to enhance their set of receivers. Sign a free agent or make a trade; and this is how the Browns can fill the gap of Cooper. While they’re unlikely to find anyone quite like Cooper, at least some veteran elements could stabilize things somewhat.
Another area the Browns may look is through their depth at wide receiver. Younger players such as Cedric Tillman, a rookie with big-time potential, might be asked to be involved in bigger minutes. Tillman has all the athleticism to make plays on the outside, but it remains a question if he has the maturity and bulk to handle the responsibilities of being a primary target in the NFL. The Browns may elevate some practice squad players too to see if there are any hidden gems.
In addition, the Browns’ coaching staff is going to have to get creative with their play-calling. Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt and head coach Kevin Stefanski are going to have to scheme around the limitations that result from Cooper’s absence, attempting to keep defenses off balance with motion, misdirection, and play-action.
The Browns have the talent to compete, but it takes a concentrated effort for the team to overcome the loss of their star wideout.
Critical Stretch AHEAD Amari Cooper’s
This season for the Browns is going to be tough while trying to catch up on the loss of one of their top players in the latter part of the season. Playoffs, more so the best teams in the very competitive AFC, can only happen if the Browns can come together and put their act together to overcome the stark deficiency caused by the absence of Cooper. While his injury is doubtless a major blow, the way the Browns react will in many ways determine the course of their season.
