Updated at 12:59 p.m.
WILMINGTON — Wilmington native Jonathan Cooper can’t seem to catch a break. After being traded to the New England Patriots this off season following an injury laden start to what was supposed to be a long and fulfilling NFL career, Cooper was carted off during the first full padded practice at training camp in Foxboro, Mass., on Saturday morning.
Cooper was lining up with the Patriots’ first-unit offense at right guard when the Hoggard High School alum suffered an injury to his right foot/ankle. He was helped off the field before being placed on a cart.
OL Jonathan Cooper just got carted off with an apparent right foot/ankle injury.
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) July 30, 2016
OL Jonathan Cooper carted off from Patriots practice. Acquired in Chandler Jones trade.
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) July 30, 2016
Around the NFL later tweeted that he was battling plantar fascia.
Injury roundup: Jonathan Cooper battling plantar fascia issue https://t.co/kv2bK0SkAo
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) July 30, 2016
This is not the first time Cooper has faced injury. During his time with the Arizona Cardinals, the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NFL draft dealt with setback after setback since first breaking his leg during the final preseason game of his rookie season. He was acquired by New England along with a 2016 second-round draft selection (61st overall) from Arizona in a trade in exchange for defensive end Chandler Jones on March 1.
