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Cooper, who was drafted 30th overall out of Indiana, made a notable impression during his limited time on the field in the season-opening 23-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans. During the opening possession of that game, the rookie hauled in a short pass and navigated through several tackles to record a 30-yard gain, a play that proved instrumental in setting up an early touchdown for the Jets.
Impact on the Jets roster and offensive strategy
Following that initial burst of activity, Cooper was forced to exit the contest. He did not participate in practice throughout the week and was officially ruled out for the upcoming matchup against the Green Bay Packers on Friday. Under the current NFL rules regarding injured reserve, Cooper is expected to be eligible to return to the active roster for the October 18 game against the New England Patriots.
The loss of Cooper, combined with the fact that Tim Patrick is also currently on injured reserve, leaves the Jets with only four wide receivers on their active roster for Sunday's game at MetLife Stadium. Beyond primary starters Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, the team will rely on Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith. Both players saw limited action in the season opener, with each being targeted only once.
Given the current personnel shortage at the receiver position, it is anticipated that the Jets will lean heavily on their tight end group for Sunday's game against Green Bay. The team currently carries five tight ends on the roster, a unit that was utilized in its entirety on a single play during the win against Tennessee. While the organization has bolstered its depth by signing veterans Sterling Shepard and Tyler Johnson to the practice squad this week, neither player is expected to be elevated to the active roster for the immediate clash with the Packers.
