The Jets are patching together their wide receiver room with some veteran help.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, New York is signing Sterling Shepard to its practice squad as injuries pile up at the position. Shepard, a former Giants and Buccaneers receiver, is coming back to New Jersey after a short stint with the Texans this summer.
Back to Jersey for Sterling Shepard: The former #Giants WR is signing with the #Jets ’ practice squad, source says. After a stint with the #Texans in camp, Shepard heads to Florham Park. pic.twitter.com/HfiP5PJu6J
- Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 15, 2026
The timing makes sense for the Jets, who are already thin at receiver. Tim Patrick landed on injured reserve before the season opener because of a groin injury, and Omar Cooper Jr. went down in Week 1 with an ankle sprain that has him listed as “week-to-week.”
Shepard, 33, is entering his 11th season after the Giants took him 40th overall in the second round of the 2016 NFL draft. In eight years with New York, he put up 372 catches for 4,095 yards and 23 touchdowns.
He spent the past two seasons in Tampa Bay, where he played 13 games in 2025 and hauled in 39 of 53 targets for 371 yards and one touchdown. He also had one drop, caught 5 of 11 contested targets, and forced five missed tackles.
What gives Shepard appeal here is versatility. Last season with the Buccaneers, he lined up in the slot on 49% of his routes and out wide on 51%, which gives the Jets another body who can help in multiple spots. That matters with Patrick out on the outside and Cooper sidelined from the slot.
When Cooper left the opener, Isaiah Williams took over in the slot for the rest of New York’s game against Tennessee.
Heading into Week 2, the Jets have only four healthy receivers on the active roster: Williams, Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell and Arian Smith, who had a brutal drop on his lone target. That makes Shepard a strong candidate to be elevated for the Week 2 matchup with the Packers if he’s healthy and ready to go.
A practice squad player can be promoted three times in a season, and with Cooper still week-to-week, Shepard could cover the next three games without needing an active roster spot. If he appears in three games from the practice squad, though, the Jets would have to sign him to the active roster before he can play again.
The Jets also added another receiver later in the day. Brian Costello of the New York Post reported that Tyler Johnson is joining the practice squad as well. Johnson, 28, played in 12 games for the Jets last season.
UPDATE (3:56 p.m. EST): The Jets have also signed wide receiver Tyler Johnson to their practice squad, per Brian Costello of the New York Post. Johnson, 28, played in 12 games for the Jets last season.
The Jets are making the following roster moves, per source:
Signing WRs Sterling Shepard and Tyler Johnson to the practice squad
Signing CB Jordan Clark to the active roster off practice squad. Clark will be a backup nickel/safety
Releasing LB Jaden Keller and OL Xavier…
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