Through the Oakland Raiders' slow start to the 2018 season, it has seen the offense notable struggle to produce with any true consistency on the field.
Much of this could be exemplified by the performance of former Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper's topsy=turvy production. According to Michael Lombardi of The Athletic, there are those around the team that are starting to question Cooper's love for the game.
"I don't think they think Amari Cooper's got great passion for the sport. I don't think they think he loves football. That's what I'm hearing coming out of that building." — @mlombardiNFL on why #Raiders are willing to part with Amari Cooper. https://t.co/J1XRyx6jFr
— Evan Silva (@evansilva) October 17, 2018
Cooper's production on the field has led many to voice those concerns as he has notched 22 receptions for 280 receiving yards and a touchdown in the first six games played this season. He has notched two 100 receiving yard performances this season but has been a complete non-factor in the other four games played recording no greater than two catches and 17 receiving yards in any contest. All of this has come to a head in Sunday’s 27-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks failing to haul in his only target.
The 24-year-old is a vastly talented wide receiver that has shown he can be a game-changing talent behind his big-play ability and production. This had once helped him earn a pair of Pro Bowl selections in his first two years in the league after posting back-to-back 1,000 receiving yard campaigns to begin his career. There is no question that he has the skill to be regarded as one of the elite wide receivers in the league, but it has been his inability to stay healthy along with his struggles to provide consistent production on a weekly basis.
There is still much to go through as Cooper is dealing with another injury as he suffered a brutal hit against the Seahawks that saw him go unconscious. He must first get past this first before anything else can be addressed as this is the second time he has dealt with a concussion in less than a year. Beyond that, Cooper has much of the season ahead of him to prove that is dedicated to his craft and silence those doubts about his committment to his craft.
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