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Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell highlighted a standout performance from recent addition Ryan Cooper Jr. during the team’s preseason matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cooper, who recently joined the Lions as a training camp signing, made a significant defensive play early in the fourth quarter that caught Campbell’s attention and prompted a coaching challenge.
On the play in question, Cooper delivered a forceful hit on Bengals receiver Dohnte Meyers as he attempted to catch a pass from quarterback Josh Johnson. The contact dislodged the football, resulting in an incompletion that Campbell felt warranted official review. Though the call stood, Cooper’s aggressive defensive execution left a lasting impression on the head coach, who praised the defender’s intensity and impact.
Campbell expressed his enthusiasm about Cooper’s potential, noting that the single play demonstrated the caliber of player he was adding to the roster. Cooper arrives in Detroit after spending the spring with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL, where he accumulated 25 tackles, four pass breakups, one tackle for loss, and one interception. The Oregon State product has previously been associated with several NFL organizations, including the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets, and appeared in one game for Baltimore during the 2024 season.
Campbell acknowledged that while the preseason opener represented just a single game for evaluation purposes, Cooper’s early showing suggested he could contribute meaningfully to the Lions’ defensive efforts moving forward.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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