Sterling Shepard’s role with the New York Jets suddenly looks a lot bigger after Omar Cooper Jr. was sent to injured reserve.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the move, and said Cooper is expected to be back after a minimum of four games. That means the rookie wideout is out for at least the next four weeks after his promising debut was cut short in Nashville.
Cooper gave Jets fans a flash right away, turning one 30-yard catch-and-run on the opening drive of Sunday’s season-opening win into the kind of play that can change the feel of a game. But after being taken down awkwardly inside the five-yard line, he left and did not return.
Earlier this week, it had been revealed that the Indiana product was dealing with a high ankle sprain, and the early expectation was that he might avoid a short-term IR stay. That’s no longer the case.
So now the attention shifts to Shepard, the veteran the Jets brought in this past week to help cover for Cooper’s absence. The former Giants receiver was signed to the practice squad on Tuesday, giving New York some badly needed depth in a wide receiver group that has been hammered by injuries.
The Jets are already without Tim Patrick, who is on injured reserve with a groin injury. Add Cooper to that list, and the active roster is down to four receivers: Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Isaiah Williams, and Arian Smith.
Wilson and Mitchell are the obvious headliners. The issue is everything behind them.
Williams has shown a little something as a receiver, but his main value comes as a return specialist. Smith, New York’s 2025 fourth-round pick, has special teams utility, but the Jets can’t feel great about relying on him for offensive snaps.
If he’s functioning as WR4, that’s a shaky spot.
For now, though, Shepard isn’t being called up for Sunday’s home opener against the Green Bay Packers. The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt reported that New York elevated kicker Jason Sanders and linebacker Troy Reeder from the practice squad for Week 2, leaving the wide receiver room unchanged.
That means the Jets are set to go into the game with just four wideouts, and the setup points toward a different kind of afternoon. With wet weather and heavy rain expected, the Jets appear ready for a run-heavy approach, with the tight ends more involved in the passing game.
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