Omar Cooper Jr. is doing his part to keep the noise around the New York Jets’ receiver room in check.
As camp moves toward the regular season, Isaiah Williams has been the summer’s biggest standout, and that has sparked plenty of chatter about where Cooper Jr. fits. But Williams offered a pretty clear sign on Monday after practice that the rookie is still putting in the work: the two stayed behind and caught 100-200 passes each on the Jugs machine.
That kind of extra session matters, especially when the conversation around Cooper Jr. starts to tilt toward panic. It’s also the latest reminder that his camp has been solid, even if Williams has been the flashier story.
Rich Cimini of ESPN reported that Williams could move ahead of Cooper Jr. on the depth chart, and that understandably set off alarms. But the report wasn’t a knock on Cooper Jr. so much as a reflection of how well Williams has played. The Jets, for once, have real depth at receiver, and that shouldn’t be spun into a problem for the rookie.
Cooper Jr. has already flashed what he can do. Earlier in the summer, he hauled in an impressive over-the-shoulder catch along the sideline, showing off the body control and hands that made him a first-round pick. Then in the preseason opener, he caught two passes for 31 yards, including a 26-yard gain over the middle.
He was getting open throughout the night, which fits the kind of player he is. Cooper Jr. is at his best after the catch, when he can make defenders miss and turn a routine play into something more. That part of his game is hard to fully showcase in camp, but he did get a glimpse of it on game day.
Like most rookie receivers, he’s working through the usual adjustment period. That’s part of the process.
But it’s also true that he’s not just showing up and collecting reps. Staying after practice for 100-200 more catches says plenty about how he’s approaching the job.
Williams may be ahead of him right now, and that may hold for a while. But the Jets took Cooper Jr. in the first round for a reason, and they clearly believe in what he can become. Williams’ rise is a good problem to have, and Cooper Jr.’s summer has shown there’s still plenty to like about where this is headed.
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