August 2, 2025   6 MIN READ

‘Make A Play A Day’

Obscure Birds WR Doing That At Training Camp

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PHILADELPHIA – Elijah Cooks attacks each and every practice with a singular mindset, one that has powered the trudge toward potentially rewriting his narrative.

“Honestly, just make a play a day,” the third-year receiver said of his mentality. “That’s how my mindset is. Been my mindset since I got into the league. A play a day. I can control what I can control, but just make a play a day and people are gonna start noticing.”

That approach was personified late during a toasty Thursday practice, when Cooks hauled in a Tanner McKee pass short of the end zone with defenders converging. Attempting to cap the play in style, Cooks extended for the touchdown, only to have the wind knocked out of him, jarring the ball loose. The stream of blood seeping down his face in the aftermath, resulting in a notch on the bridge of his nose, acted as the equivalent of pouring salt in an open wound for someone in his position.

The sequence marked one of the few opportunities on which the rangy wideout has failed to make good seven practices into camp. Sure, the outcome proved fruitless, but it’s been the dogged temperament ingrained in Cooks that’s fueled the buzz growing louder with each practice.

When the ball is in the air, Cooks has programmed himself to believe that it belongs to him and no one else. By his estimation, in a 50-50 catch scenario, Cooks boosts his odds to 70-30. He declares it his specialty.

Through the first week-plus of camp, Cooks has hardly shied away from competition, instead embracing the lack of comfort that feeds his hunger. Opportunities for those on the fringe are infrequent, intensifying an urgency within Cooks to deliver on his daily objective.

“I’m trying my hardest,” he said. “I left a few out there, so I gotta make ’em back.”

As for his reputation for winning “above the rim,” well, that’s likely a byproduct of his basketball background. For perspective, Cooks grew up a two-sport athlete. He even briefly joined the Nevada basketball team as an injury replacement, appearing in four games. The parallels have been evident, as the 6-foot-4 Cooks pulls from his experience on the hardwood, where he learned how to use his frame and create spacing.

The play that perhaps best encapsulates his ability to climb the proverbial ladder and pounce at the catch point occurred during the final play of a developmental period three days into camp, when Kyle McCord heaved a deep shot down the left sideline. In the face of tight coverage, Cooks soared above the defender to secure the leaping grab while showcasing body control in ensuring he didn’t drift out of bounds.

“It always feels great to make a great catch like that,” he said. “But you can’t really think about it too much. You gotta go on to the next day, ’cause we got to practice for the next 30 days. You gotta make a play every day.”

Coinciding with his on-field production is a developing intangible that’s detectable by his messaging and demeanor. He knows he belongs. The challenge now becomes maintaining consistency and translating his training camp highlights into preseason production.

“I just feel like I’m starting to get a little bit more confidence,” he said. “This is my third year, so I just feel like I can go out there and play with anybody.”

getty Elijah Cooks Eagles 2025 training camp

GETTY IMAGES: Bottom-roster Eagles WR is rising, with a daily highlight-reel catch at training camp.

Let’s rewind back to spring practices for a moment, before Cooks was skying over defensive backs and collecting touchdowns. He was merely a spectator during the sessions, sidelined with what he downplayed as a “light tweak.” But for those on the outside looking in – the football equivalent of limbo – the best ability is availability, especially when a position group is rich with intriguing talent vying for a place in the pecking order.

When speaking to reporters, Cooks was candid, admitting he returned for OTAs a “little sloppy.” Rather than concede, however, the 26-year-old arrived for training camp in top form, even having shed a couple pounds. Cooks also worked this offseason to refine a specific skill set, fixating on polishing his route-running, specifically pivoting with increased suddenness in and out of breaks.

Cooks, who two summers ago made the Jaguars’ 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent, knows what it takes to go the distance. He has also experienced misfortune, splitting time last season between Jacksonville’s active roster and practice squad before joining the Eagles for a brief practice squad run leading up to the team’s divisional round clash with the Rams.

In fact, Cooks was tasked that week with emulating Rams receiver Puka Nacua.

The initial stop at the NovaCare Complex might have been short-lived – Cooks subsequently signed a reserve/future deal in February – but it proved sufficient enough to leave a lasting impact.

“It was amazing,” he said, looking back. “Just being around the playoff mindset. Like, seeing what they did that game … snowing. It was crazy to be a part of.”

While Cooks has garnered attention as a receiver, the reality is that a primary factor in establishing staying power as a deep reserve often boils down to special teams value. For reference, Cooks has logged 42 third phase snaps over 11 career appearances. Can he contribute there for the Eagles to make the roster?

Cooks defaulted to his personal motto – if he’s on the field, he said, he’s going to make a play.

Considerable uncertainty might cloud his future, but Cooks reverts back to the principle of controlling what’s within his power. He’s never been handed anything and he certainly isn’t taking his newfound opportunity for granted. Cooks is the quintessential underdog, miring in relative anonymity. Just as he prefers. Good day or bad, he maintains a level head, continuously focused on his daily mindset.

“I still look at it like I’m the same way,” he said. “Right now, I’m at the bottom of the barrel and I gotta look at it like that the whole way through camp, because at any moment I can be gone. And I just wanna show these people – show this team, show the coaches – that I’m ready to be an Eagle.”

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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