WR Amari Cooper (10.26.23)
What does it say about you guys that you’ve been able to win the last couple of weeks without really having Deshaun (Watson) for more than not even a quarter?
“Yeah, I mean, it just speaks to the resiliency of the team. Obviously, for the past couple of weeks, we didn’t know who would go out there and start for us at quarterback, but at the end of the day, it shows our ability to adapt to whatever situation is presented before us.”
Where do you think that comes from, the ability to do that?
“I would just say the way we practice. That’s the first thing I will resort to. The way we practice, the circumstances we put ourselves in and practice. We just go out there and we dominate the practice. That’s why I would say it comes from.”
How do you think P.J. (Walker) has handled this uncertainty and getting thrown into the fire, and then obviously, this week at practice, now that he knows going into the week that he’s going to play?
“I would say he’s handled it well. I mean, comes in, he just does what’s asked of him. He goes out there and he tries to execute to the best of his ability. He’s been doing a good job.”
Do you feel like you’re developing a rapport with P.J. (Walker)
“Yeah, just the communication. I mean, repetition is the mother of all learning, so the more reps we get, the better we’ll be. But what I’ve noticed is if we make a mistake on a connection, we talk about it and we grow from there.”
How valuable is a single day of practice preparing for a team, for the quarterback? Because last week he didn’t practice Thursday or Friday, and it kind of showed, I thought, in the game.
“That would be a better question for a quarterback to answer, because I’ve never prepared as a quarterback to go play in the game. So, it’d be a better question for a quarterback.”
Is there something about P.J. (Walker) in the fourth quarter? Because these last two games, he’s pretty good on those game winning drives.
“Some people say it’s a clutch gene. Maybe he has it.”
Jim Irsay came out pretty strongly and tweeted that the NFL told him that the refs got it wrong on those two calls at the end of the game. So specifically, your call. I’m just wondering, did you feel like that was the right call on that?
“I mean, the calls are subjective at the end of the day. Did he grab me? I believe it was very obvious that he did. They called it.”
Going to Seattle. What do you see with the Seahawks secondary?
“Yeah, you got some good players in the secondary, players that we have our attention on, for sure. But as long as we go out there and do our job, we’ll be fine. But they’re playing really good football.”
What’s that environment like playing in that stadium?
“Yeah, I played there a couple of times. It gets really loud, so it’s definitely going to be a challenge for us. But it’s something, again, we’re preparing ourselves for this week. It all comes down to execution at the end of the day, and that’s what we’re trying to do. We have the crowd noise out there for practice for a reason. We’re just preparing.”
What do you think about the rookie corner (Devin) Witherspoon? Is he as good as advertised?
“Yeah, yeah, I think he’s a good player. Making a lot of plays, making his name known. So, yeah, it’s going to be a nice competition going out there.”
You guys have seen the next man up mentality embodied in the quarterbacks room, but you also have had to see it in that running backs room. How have you seen those guys kind of step up when Nick Chubb goes out and then Jerome Ford goes out for the game? How have you seen them maintain that and have a strong run game still?
“Yeah, I mean, it’s a testament to the way that those guys prepare. The first thing that is important is knowing what to do when you go out there. I think a lot of guys, they get kind of complacent, thinking that they might not have the opportunity to play. Then something like that happens in the game to where it’s unexpected and you have to be ready. So, I think they’ve stepped up in a big way by just knowing what to do.”
How difficult is it for you to kind of get in the flow when you don’t get targets early, like you did Indy?
“Yeah, that can be difficult to get into the flow when you don’t get targets early. Generally, you want to get a catch as early as possible so that you kind of get into the groove, get hit a little bit so that you can feel like you’re playing. But the cookie doesn’t always crumble that way. Sometimes you have to wait even into the second half to get your first catch. And I’ve been there before, had games where I had one catch in the first half and then ended the game with 200 yards. So, it’s just perspective.”
What was the Deshaun (Watson) like in the huddle, Amari? In those first few plays when he didn’t seem to have it going?
“He was like himself, and I don’t know how to answer that question. I mean, he was Deshaun Watson. Calling the plays that have been relayed to him, just trying to get us going like any other quarterback would do. So, it’s the same Deshaun.”
Even with all the struggles at quarterback. What’s it say that this team is still 4-2?
“Like I said before, the resiliency of this team, I mean, obviously quarterback is the most important position, but the defense has been making great plays. I believe the receivers have been making plays when our names have been called, playing great, complimentary football, special teams been playing great. So, when you could play together in all three phases, good things will happen.”
In your dealings and conversations with Deshaun, how badly does he want to be out there? And how hard is he trying to be out there with you guys?
“Yeah, of course, that’s any player, something unfortunate happens, like an injury, you want to be out there. That’s what hurts us the most, not being able to be available for the team. Especially when it’s one of those I would call it like a gray area injury to where you don’t necessarily have surgery on it, so you could still play, but it’s going to be extremely difficult to be you. So that’s painful. I’ve been there.”
And is it extremely frustrating as a player, I would guess, to have people wonder if you should be out there before you actually can be yourself?
“Yeah, I mean, just speaking from my own experience yeah, 100%. It’s one of the most painful things to go through, because like I said before, theoretically you can play, you can run around, you can move, but you’re just not 100% yourself. You’ll be a shell of yourself at that point. I played through a lot of injuries. I know exactly what he’s going through.”
Amari, you’ve established yourself as one of the most reliable receivers in the league. How much do you study other receivers and still try to add to your repertoire? Somebody like DK Metcalf, for example?
“I don’t necessarily say that I study other guys, but inevitably I have to watch them on the defenses that I’m going up against. So, I see other receivers play, and if I see them do something that is different, I’ll tally it up, try to save it for the archive. Yeah.”
# # #
***Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts and more.***