Cooper’s absence on Thursday would create yet another problem for a Browns team that hasn’t had its starting quarterback or running back for most of the season while surviving numerous injuries to its offensive line. It would also deprive fans of seeing how the veteran receiver would top his incredible performance on Sunday in Houston, when he set a new franchise record for receiving yards in a single game.
Cooper is fresh off a monster 11-catch, 265-yard, two-touchdown performance against the Texans in week 16, a display that guided the Browns to a third consecutive win and only their third 10-win campaign this century. Despite Cleveland’s carousel at quarterback, Cooper has amassed a career-high 1,250 yards from 15 games in 2023 and is poised for his fifth Pro Bowl selection since entering the NFL in 2015.
Cooper’s huge game against the Texans made him the first receiver in Browns history — which officially dates back to 1946 — to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. The former Dallas Cowboy is sixth in the NFL in receiving yards, while his 17.4 yards per reception mark is fourth in the NFL and represents another career high.
While several teams face complicated permutations and may even be relying on other results to make the playoffs, the Browns’ formula is a simple one. If Cleveland beats New York on Thursday night, the Browns will play postseason football for only the third time since the franchise resumed play in 1999.
The 10-5 Browns have already secured only their fourth winning season in the past 25, and they are favored by more than a touchdown against the 6-9 Jets, who have been eliminated from playoff contention. On paper, it looks like a matchup Cleveland should win, with its dominant defense (260 yards allowed per game) poised to wreak havoc on the Jets’ beleaguered offensive line. But without a weapon like Cooper on offense, Myles Garrett and the rest of Cleveland’s defense will have to make sure any points the Browns muster will hold up.
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