According to the official tally, Riley Cooper hasn't been targeted once in three preseason games for the Philadelphia Eagles. Not that the 27-year-old wide receiver is worried about it."Honestly, I never even thought about this until you all brought it to my attention," Cooper said on Monday.
"I mean, it's preseason, dude."
That, it is. But his continued absence from the roll call when the Eagles take the field could not be described as a new phenomenon. He finished last season with only 55 receptions for 577 yards and three touchdowns, that after putting his name to a $25 million extension over four years following a production 2013 in which he snagged eight scores on more than 800 yards.
There is, of course, the possibility that a sixth-year veteran wouldn't be too heavily involved in preseason games to begin with.
"I'm not worried about it, to answer everyone's question," Cooper said. "I'm super excited about this upcoming season. I will not have any targets [in the final exhibition] game, I will not play."
Someone else who isn't too worried is head coach Chip Kelly.
"I just think it's the way it's gone when he's been out there," Kelly said. "We haven't scripted or game planned for any of our first three opponents. We're just calling plays and however they express themselves, they express themselves."
Cooper has had little chance to express himself, sidelined somewhat this summer with a finger injury and also what he calls a groin problem, but neither are anything serious.
"I'm ready to rock and roll," he said. "I'm feeling great."
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