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After two games, it appears the role of Philadelphia’s third wide receiver is shaping up to be a two-man race.
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One possible candidate is Makai Lemon, the first-round draft choice from USC who Philadelphia moved up in the draft to acquire. The other is Darius Cooper, the second-year player who primarily plays on special teams and was an undrafted free agent from Tarleton State University in 2025.
Lemon’s numbers do not look particularly eye popping after two games as a professional. He has four receptions for nine yards and one rush for minus five yards. After a three-catch, minus five-yard outing against Washington in Week 1, it is pretty apparent that screen passes are not exactly Lemon’s strong point as a rookie.
To be fair, Lemon’s slow start could largely be due to missing a significant amount of time in training camp due to a hamstring injury. Stepping in as an immediate impact player is hard for any rookie, especially one that is playing catchup. Beyond the numbers, game film shows that Lemon has been open downfield. However, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has chosen to throw the ball to different targets he must feel more comfortable with.
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The other serious contender, Cooper, gained notoriety for his nifty game-winning touchdown grab in the back of the end zone in the closing seconds Sunday in Tennessee. Cooper finished the game with a modest two catches for 26 yards and the biggest score of the afternoon.
Cooper is a fan favorite because of his tenacity to make the squad as an undrafted free agent, as well as his willingness to do whatever it takes to make an impact. When he isn’t catching game winning touchdowns, Cooper has five tackles through two games as a special teams player.
Based on the politics of the situation, Lemon will get the nod as Philadelphia’s third wideout because he was the first-round draft choice. However, Cooper will not be ignored for much longer, especially if he comes up with key catches in critical moments. I would consider the race for Philadelphia’s third receiver role as a dead heat between the two at this point. Fellow Eagle receivers Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Elijah Moore will likely have an opportunity to enter the fray as a third option at some point this season.
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This story was originally published September 24, 2026 at 8:57 PM.