From New York Jets On SI · · 3m
The practice squad guy who could matter in Week 2
Omar Cooper Jr. went down in the first quarter, and the Jets' thin receiver room may hand Jamaal Pritchett his first real shot.
In brief
Omar Cooper Jr. went down in the first quarter, and the Jets' thin receiver room may hand Jamaal Pritchett his first real shot. If Cooper misses time, Pritchett is the Jets' most logical call-up: a big-play slot receiver who also blocks and returns kicks, with no tape for Green Bay to study. Originally reported by New…
A win with a catch
Aaron Glenn's Jets beat Robert Saleh's Titans 23-10 in Week 1, the kind of start a new staff needs. They did not get out of Sunday clean.
One catch, then gone
Rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. hauled in a 30-yard grab for his first NFL catch, then left in the first quarter and never came back.
High ankle sprain
Tom Pelissero reported sources called it a high ankle sprain. X-rays came back negative, and Cooper was set for an MRI on Monday.
“Cooper, the first-round pick, will have an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.”
A first-rounder sized hole
Cooper went in the first round in April. Any real absence pulls a planned piece out of the offense before the season gets going.
Four receivers deep
Behind Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, the 53-man roster has only Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith at wideout. That is not much of a cushion.
The practice squad call
If Cooper sits in Week 2 or longer, New York likely has to promote someone. Jamaal Pritchett is the name to watch.
Quiet day behind the top two
Williams caught his only target for seven yards. Smith dropped his lone target, which also happened to be his only passing-down snap, per Pro Football Focus.
A reason to shake it up
Even if Cooper suits up against the Packers, Glenn and coordinator Frank Reich have cause to change the mix. That opens a door.
Undrafted, not unknown
The Jets signed Pritchett after the 2025 draft. At South Alabama he put up 148 catches, 2,009 yards and 17 touchdowns over 25 games.
They kept choosing him
He never got activated in 2025, yet the Jets gave him a futures deal in January and re-signed him to the practice squad after August cuts. That is a vote of confidence.
Preseason flashes
Across four exhibition games in two summers, Pritchett caught 10 of 19 targets for 94 yards and four first downs. The catch rate is rough at 52.6%.
Built to go deep
He averaged 23.5 yards per catch, with an 11.5-yard average depth of target this preseason per PFF. The Jets aim him downfield on purpose.
He blocks, too
New York has used him as a run-blocker, a job he did often at South Alabama. That helps clear room for Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.
Hands on special teams
In preseason work he returned two kickoffs for 55 yards and 12 punts for 149. Williams is still the primary returner, but depth there never hurts.
Green Bay's soft spot
The Packers gave up three passing touchdowns to the Vikings. The Jets have every reason to go after them through the air.
No tape on him
Green Bay has almost nothing to scout on Pritchett. A big-play threat nobody has prepared for is a real edge for a week.
Ten to fifteen snaps
Nobody is asking him to play most of the downs. Carving 10 to 15 of Williams's 40 Week 1 snaps for Pritchett is a fair bet if he gets promoted.
“if he finds himself in line for a bigger role, the Jets should feel confident that the UDFA pass-catcher can handle the pressure”
At a glance
If Cooper misses time, Pritchett is the Jets' most logical call-up: a big-play slot receiver who also blocks and returns kicks, with no tape for Green Bay to study.
