Amari Cooper underwent core surgery earlier this offseason. Now, the Browns’ number one wide receiver faces another rebound over new issues. According to Cleveland.com, Cooper suffered a “tweak” at training camp on Sunday, forcing him to cut his practice early. The former Cowboys star, who was acquired in a trade last year, struggled with a sore core in his 2022 debut with the Browns, during which time he rushed for more than 1,000 receiving yards and scored a career-high nine touchdowns. Cooper was on the field Saturday for the start of the 2023 camp in Cleveland and even told reporters he will be unrestricted after winter surgery. But he spent much of Sunday afternoon in the therapy pool within the Browns’ temporary West Virginia facilities, according to Mary Kay Cabot.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry declined to specify where and how, exactly, Cooper was injured on Sunday, but he confirmed to reporters that the “tweak” was not related to the wideout’s core muscle surgery, and called the injury “minor.” The receiver now carries a day-to-day designation on the club’s unofficial injury report.
Cooper’s unexpected departure comes at a time the Browns are already short on wide receivers to start camp. Four other veteran reserves are currently nursing ailments of their own: Jakeem Grant is returning from a ruptured Achilles, Anthony Schwartz is on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list due to a hamstring issue, Michael Woods is also rehabbing from an Achilles injury, and Marquise Goodwin was recently discovered to have blood clots in his legs and lungs.
Elijah Moore, the former Ole Miss product who was acquired from the Jets in March, figures to see even more action out wide as long as Cooper and the others are sidelined.