The New York Jets have made their first receiver move in response to Omar Cooper Jr.’s ankle injury.
Veteran wide receiver Sterling Shepard agreed to join the Jets’ practice squad Tuesday, giving New York an experienced option while Cooper remains week to week. The move comes one day after the Jets learned Cooper could miss multiple games but likely would not require injured reserve.
Shepard is not being added directly to the 53-man roster, so the transaction is more about flexibility than an immediate depth-chart takeover. But with Tim Patrick already on injured reserve and Cooper unavailable for at least the short term, the Jets now have another veteran who can be elevated if the offense needs help on game day.
Sterling Shepard gives the Jets an experienced short-term option
Shepard, 33, spent the first eight seasons of his career with the New York Giants and is already familiar with playing home games at MetLife Stadium.
He later played for Tampa Bay and spent part of this year’s training camp with Houston before being released during final cuts. Shepard appeared in 13 games for the Buccaneers in 2025, catching 39 passes for 371 yards and a touchdown.
That recent production matters because the Jets are not simply looking for a recognizable name. They need someone who can learn the offense quickly enough to become a realistic elevation candidate while Cooper recovers.
Shepard’s route-running experience and familiarity with working from different receiver alignments give New York a veteran option without forcing the club to make an immediate active-roster commitment.
The move follows Omar Cooper Jr.’s Week 1 ankle injury
Cooper injured his ankle in the Jets’ 23-10 Week 1 win over Tennessee and is considered week to week after imaging provided encouraging news.
FSN’s earlier Jets injury update explained how Cooper’s absence complicates a receiver room that was already thinner after Patrick went to injured reserve.
The rookie made an immediate impact in his debut, turning his first NFL catch into a 30-yard gain that helped set up New York’s opening touchdown. His ability to create explosive plays gave the offense a different element behind Garrett Wilson.
Shepard is not a direct stylistic replacement for Cooper, but the Jets do not need him to be. The more immediate goal is to add another trustworthy route runner who can help stabilize the room while Cooper heals.
Practice-squad status keeps the Jets flexible
Signing Shepard to the practice squad gives New York several options.
The Jets can let him learn the offense without immediately creating another active-roster move, then elevate him on game day if the coaching staff believes he is ready. NFL practice-squad rules also give teams the ability to use standard elevations before deciding whether a more permanent promotion is necessary.
That makes the transaction a low-risk way to add experience during an uncertain recovery window.
If Cooper returns sooner than expected, Shepard can remain as depth. If Cooper misses several games or another receiver gets hurt, the Jets have already begun preparing a veteran alternative.
New York’s receiver room still has several internal options
The Jets do not have to force Shepard into a significant role immediately.
Garrett Wilson remains the focal point of the passing game, while Adonai Mitchell, Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith are among the other receivers available to absorb snaps.
The coaching staff can also redistribute targets rather than asking one player to reproduce Cooper’s exact role. Tight ends and running backs can take on more underneath work while New York uses its remaining receivers to preserve spacing and vertical stress.
That is why Shepard’s experience could be useful even if his initial snap count is small. A veteran who understands leverage, option routes and situational football can help keep the offense functional while younger players take on larger responsibilities.
The Jets chose experience after evaluating outside help
New York had been expected to explore veteran receiver options once Cooper’s injury timeline became clear.
Earlier reporting indicated the Jets were evaluating available veterans as they tried to decide whether the current room needed reinforcement. Shepard now becomes the first confirmed addition tied to that process.
The move is notable because the Jets did not wait until later in the week to see how practice unfolded. By adding Shepard now, they give him additional preparation time before Sunday’s home game against Green Bay.
That does not guarantee he will be elevated for Week 2, but it increases the possibility that he could be ready if the Jets decide they need another receiver on the active game-day roster.
What Shepard could realistically provide
At this stage of his career, Shepard does not need to become a high-volume target to help the Jets.
His value would be in giving the offense another professional route runner who can line up correctly, handle assignment changes and provide quarterback Geno Smith with a reliable option if injuries force New York deeper into the receiver rotation.
The Jets can also evaluate how quickly Shepard picks up terminology and timing before deciding whether he belongs in the Sunday plan.
That evaluation period is exactly what the practice squad is designed to provide.
Week 2 will show how aggressively the Jets use the new depth
New York hosts Green Bay in Week 2 after opening the season with a strong road win.
The Jets do not need to remake the offense because of one rookie injury, but Cooper’s absence removes a player who immediately showed big-play ability. Shepard gives the coaching staff another option while the offense adjusts.
The Jets team page will be worth watching for any game-day elevation or additional receiver move later in the week.
For now, Shepard’s signing is a practical response to a short-term depth problem: New York gets an experienced receiver into the building without overcommitting before it knows exactly how long Cooper will be out.