Payments’ Amari Cooper appears to make influence vs. Seahawks

NFL: Tennessee Titans at Buffalo BillsOct 20, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Tennessee Titans cornerback Jarvis Brownlee Jr. (29) tackles Buffalo Payments huge receiver Amari Cooper (18) after he made a catch throughout the second half at Highmark Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Photographs

Simply assume what Amari Cooper may do for the Buffalo Payments with a full week of apply.

Cooper, acquired in the course of final week from Cleveland, had 4 catches for 66 yards and a landing in his debut with Buffalo final Sunday.

He’ll look to enhance on these numbers after a full week of figuring out with quarterback Josh Allen earlier than the AFC East-leading Payments (5-2) journey to Seattle to satisfy the NFC West-best Seahawks (4-3) on Sunday.

“It was simply one other day on the workplace on the huge receiver place,” mentioned Cooper, a five-time Professional Bowl choice who’s in his tenth season within the NFL.

Simply having Cooper on the sector was of profit to Allen, who threw for 323 yards in a 34-10 win over the Tennessee Titans final Sunday after averaging simply 193 via the primary six video games of the season with a patchwork receiving corps.

“Guys of (Cooper’s) caliber, they do not want quite a bit,” Allen mentioned. “They go on the market, give him a transparent thoughts, let him go play. That is what he did on the market a few instances, simply discovering zones, discovering home windows … simply the professionalism that he has, the power that he has, simply trusting what I see with him, and issues will prove fairly good.”

Payments coach Sean McDermott marveled at what Cooper was in a position to do with solely 4 practices behind him.

“It is good to have (Cooper) right here,” McDermott mentioned. “He made an influence in simply 4 days, actually, 4 teachable, learnable days. After which to return out on day 5 right here and execute like he did was spectacular.”

It was the second win in a row for the Payments, whose plus-63 level differential is second solely to Washington’s plus-66.

The Seahawks, in the meantime, snapped a three-game skid with a 34-14 victory final Sunday at Atlanta.

Working again Kenneth Walker III, celebrating his twenty fourth birthday, overcame flu-like signs to hurry for 69 yards and a landing. He additionally caught a 17-yard scoring strike from Geno Smith.

“He was sick, man,” mentioned Smith, who handed for 207 yards and two TDs. “Two touchdowns on his birthday, that was sick. I assumed he did an awesome job. Clearly, he was below the climate. A little bit little bit of his ‘flu sport’ at this time on his birthday. I believe that is spectacular.”

Walker credited the group’s coaching employees for serving to him keep hydrated.

“I felt fatigued,” Walker mentioned. “I really feel like simply all the things was type of onerous. Being sick, however we acquired the W, so it is all good.”

The Seahawks may be with out star receiver DK Metcalf, who sustained a Grade 1 pressure of the medial collateral ligament in his knee towards Atlanta.

“We all know DK,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald mentioned. “He’ll most likely do something humanly doable to play on this sport, I would think about. And we’ll assess it because the week unfolds right here.”

Along with Metcalf, Walker (sickness) has missed apply time this week, as has defensive finish Leonard Williams (knee) and cornerbacks Tre Brown (ankle) and Nehemiah Pritchett (ankle).

The Payments have 5 gamers who’ve missed apply time this week: huge receiver Curtis Samuel (pectoral), tight finish Dawson Knox (ankle), defensive linemen DaQuan Jones (foot) and Dawuane Smoot (groin), and linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle/pec).

–Area Degree Media