The New York Jets opened the 2026 season with a convincing 23-10 road win over Tennessee, but the cost of that victory is starting to come into focus.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is expected to miss multiple games with a groin injury, while rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is considered week-to-week with an ankle injury. Neither player is currently expected to go on injured reserve, which suggests the Jets believe both absences could be shorter than the four-game minimum required by IR.
The timing is significant. New York returns home in Week 2 to face Green Bay before traveling to Detroit in Week 3, and both injuries hit positions where the Jets had already been reshaping roles around a new-look roster.
Minkah Fitzpatrick’s absence changes the back end of the defense
Fitzpatrick was injured just six defensive snaps into the opener against Tennessee. The veteran safety went down while pursuing quarterback Cam Ward and did not return.
The Jets acquired Fitzpatrick in March to be more than a traditional deep safety. He was expected to provide versatility, communication and experience to Aaron Glenn’s defense, particularly in a secondary that has undergone meaningful change.
His early exit forced New York to adjust immediately. Dane Belton took on additional responsibilities, while Andre Cisco handled safety snaps. That emergency reshuffling worked against Tennessee, but doing it for an entire game against Green Bay is a different challenge.
Green Bay’s offense can stress safeties horizontally and vertically, and the Jets will need cleaner communication than they had time to prepare for in Nashville. Fitzpatrick’s value is not limited to interceptions or highlight plays; he helps organize the structure around him.
That makes his absence especially important for a Jets team trying to build on the defensive identity outlined in FSN’s 2026 Jets franchise outlook.
The Jets avoided the worst-case scenario with injured reserve
The most encouraging part of the update is what the Jets are not doing.
Fitzpatrick is not currently expected to go on injured reserve. Under NFL rules, a move to IR would sideline him for at least four games. The decision to keep him off the list indicates New York believes there is a realistic chance he returns sooner.
That does not mean Week 2 is likely. Current reporting points to Fitzpatrick missing at least the Packers game and potentially Week 3 at Detroit as well.
The Jets are also planning to add safety Dean Clark to the practice squad for depth. That move would give the team another option while preserving flexibility on the active roster.
Omar Cooper Jr.’s ankle injury creates a different problem
Cooper’s injury is less damaging to the defense but potentially more disruptive to the offensive plan.
The first-round rookie made an immediate impact in his NFL debut. His first catch went for 30 yards and helped set up New York’s opening touchdown against Tennessee.
That was exactly the kind of explosive contribution the Jets drafted him to provide. Cooper does not need to dominate target volume to change the spacing of the offense; his speed and run-after-catch ability can force defenses to defend more of the field.
He left the game with what has been reported as a high ankle sprain and is considered week-to-week.
The Jets were already managing wide receiver depth after Tim Patrick was placed on short-term injured reserve. Cooper’s absence leaves another opening behind the primary receiving group and increases the likelihood that New York will add outside help.
Darius Slayton is a name to watch
One veteran option reportedly under consideration is former Giants receiver Darius Slayton.
Slayton would make sense because he brings NFL experience and vertical speed, two qualities that could help New York cover Cooper’s absence without forcing a major change to the offense.
That does not mean a signing is imminent. The Jets can also elevate from within or redistribute snaps among the receivers already on the roster. But the fact that they are evaluating veteran options shows the team does not view the current receiver situation as something to simply ignore.
Week 2 against Green Bay will test New York’s depth
The Jets’ 23-10 win over Tennessee was one of the cleaner performances of Week 1. Geno Smith played efficiently, Breece Hall topped 100 rushing yards and the defense consistently pressured Cam Ward.
Green Bay presents a different test. The Packers are coming off a 39-22 loss to Minnesota, but they still have enough offensive talent to punish coverage mistakes and enough defensive playmakers to force New York to win through multiple options.
If Fitzpatrick is out, the secondary has to prove the Week 1 adjustment was sustainable rather than temporary. If Cooper is out, the offense has to replace a player who provided an explosive gain on his first professional catch.
Neither injury alone should derail the Jets. The challenge is absorbing both at once while maintaining the momentum of a strong opener.
The bigger picture for Aaron Glenn’s Jets
Depth is one of the first things an improving team gets tested on.
New York spent the offseason trying to build a roster that did not require everything to go perfectly. Week 1 delivered a win, but it also immediately tested that premise.
The Jets now have to show they can replace a five-time Pro Bowl safety for at least a short stretch and navigate a thinner receiver room without losing the aggressive style that helped them beat Tennessee.
That makes the Packers game more than a 1-0 team’s home opener. It is the first real test of whether the Jets’ improved depth is strong enough to survive the injuries that arrive with every NFL season.