Jets rookie Cooper Jr. placed on IR with sprained ankle — SkimNews
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- Omar Cooper Jr. was placed on injured reserve Saturday with a sprained ankle, per a source to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, after playing only four snaps in the Jets' Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans.
- Cooper is expected to return after a four-week IR stint and is eligible to play Oct. 18 against the New England Patriots.
- The Jets now have two wide receivers on IR — Cooper and Tim Patrick — leaving only four receivers on the active roster for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers at MetLife Stadium.
- Drafted 30th overall out of Indiana, Cooper broke several tackles on his first NFL touch for a 30-yard play that set up a touchdown on the opening possession before leaving the game; he didn't practice all week and was ruled out Friday.
- With receiver depth stretched thin, the Jets are expected to lean heavily on tight ends — the team has five on the roster and actually used all five on a single play in the 23-10 win over Tennessee.
- Behind starters Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, depth receivers Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith were each targeted just once in Week 1, with Smith dropping his only chance.
- The Jets signed veterans Sterling Shepard and Tyler Johnson to the practice squad this week for depth, though neither is expected to be elevated for Sunday.
Why it matters: Cooper's four-week absence leaves the Jets — coming off a Week 1 win — with only four healthy wideouts and a passing game that must lean on tight ends plus unproven depth receivers Williams and Smith, who combined for two targets (one drop) in the opener. The team's first-round investment in Cooper now sits shelved through at least four games.
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