Omar Cooper Jr. Is Designated to Return to Jets Practice

Omar Cooper Jr. is designated to return to practice, giving the Jets their first chance in weeks to evaluate the rookie receiver on the field. Head coach Aaron Glenn announced Wednesday that Cooper will practice this week after the ankle injury he suffered in the season opener. The designation opens a 21-day window to add him to the active roster from injured reserve, according to NewYorkJets.com. It does not mean he has been activated or that a game-day return has been set.

Cooper was on the field for only five snaps in the Week 1 win over Tennessee, which is a frustratingly small sample for a first-round pick. One of those snaps showed exactly why the Jets wanted him. He caught a pass for 30 yards, gained 26 of those yards after the catch and helped set up a touchdown on the opening drive. Then the ankle injury put his rookie season on hold almost as soon as it began.

Glenn pointed to the value of practice time for a young player, saying, “the reps are valuable for those guys.” That is especially true for Cooper, who needs time working within the offense after missing the games and practices that followed his debut. There is a difference between being cleared to practice and being ready to take a full role on Sunday, so the next few weeks should tell the Jets far more than the designation alone does.

The Jets traded back into the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select Cooper out of Indiana. He arrived after catching 69 passes for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final college season, numbers that help explain the interest in his play making ability. His one regular-season catch was a reminder that he can do damage after the ball gets into his hands, even if fans have barely seen him yet.

For now, the encouraging part is simply that Cooper can get back to work. The Jets have 21 days to decide whether to move him from injured reserve to the active Jets Roster, and his progress in practice will matter more than guesses about a return date. If he can get healthy and earn a role, the offense could finally get a longer look at one of its most intriguing young receivers.

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