# 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.
- Title: The practice squad guy who could matter in Week 2 | Shortify
- Summary: 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…
- Keywords: nfl, new york jets, wide receivers, injuries, week 2, sports, practice, squad, guy, matter, Week, New York Jets On SI
- Source: New York Jets On SI — https://si.com/nfl/jets/onsi/why-jamaal-pritchett-will-make-a-bigger-impact-than-you-think-after-omar-cooper-s-injury-01m2g4r0f3d8
- Published: 2026-09-14T15:32:59+00:00
- Read time: 3 min
- Topics: nfl, new york jets, wide receivers, injuries, week 2, sports
## 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
## Key takeaway

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.