Five-time Pro Bowl WR Amari Cooper is not having the start to the 2024 season that he envisioned.
Dropped passes and penalties have turned what could have been a strong start for the 10-year veteran into one he'd rather forget about and move past.
"Sometimes I do wish that I could erase memories from my brain, but unfortunately that's not the case," Cooper said. "So, you do have to be extremely resilient. It's not always the easiest thing to do, but it's part of being a pro."
In the third quarter of the Browns' 20-16 loss to the Raiders in Week 4, Cooper didn't secure a deep ball from QB Deshaun Watson, a costly drop that resulted in an interception. Two drives later, Cooper ran a route across the field and found himself wide open. Watson launched a well-placed ball, and Cooper caught it in stride, running 82 yards to the end zone before the play was called back because of an offensive holding penalty on C Nick Harris.
The play would have been the longest completion of Watson's career and would have put the Browns ahead of the Raiders in the fourth quarter.
"It can be extremely crushing. You just have to understand that that's a part of the game, plays get called back for penalties," Cooper said. "That's why you have to play clean football, because you never know when a huge opportunity like that will be all for naught."
The Browns have struggled to play clean football at times this season, racking up the fourth-most penalties in the NFL. In addition to being called for penalties at a high rate, miscues, such as drops, have been an issue for the Browns in each of their four games so far this season.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Washington Commanders at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Running back Nyheim Hines (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Linebacker Michael Barrett (48) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 2, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on October 3, 2024.
Cooper drew praise from offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey for his consistency. Dorsey expressed confidence in Cooper's ability to make big plays for the Browns offense moving forward.
"I love watching him come out to work because he works hard for us in practice, and I think you see that in the game as well," Dorsey said on Thursday. "And I know there's been certain times where it hasn't gone his way, but he's a pro and he's the type of player that makes special plays for us. So, we're going to continue to grind, and I think he will, too."
Cooper has shown what he brings to the Cleveland offense this season, highlighted by his performance against the Giants in Week 3 in which he hauled in seven receptions for 86 yards and two touchdowns.
Watson has no doubt that Cooper can return to form after a slow start to the season. The two have connected for over 1,000 yards and six touchdowns in their 16 career games together.
"At the end of the day, we move on to the next play and he knows that I'm coming right back to him regardless of the situation or what happens," Watson said. "So, we trust in him. I believe in him. I have full trust in Coop and any time I need to get him the ball and give him an opportunity, usually he makes those plays."
Watson and Cooper will look to make plays Sunday against a 3-1 Commanders team. Sitting at 1-3, Cooper said the Browns have nowhere to go but forward.
"We've been practicing, we've been putting more emphasis on certain things from an offensive standpoint and we're crossing every 'T' and dotting every 'I' going into this next game," Cooper said. "So, we look forward to going out there and being a dominant offense."
