New York Jets Add Sterling Shepard and Tyler Johnson Following Week 1 Injuries

The New York Jets signed veteran receivers Sterling Shepard and Tyler Johnson to the practice squad on Tuesday following injuries to Omar Cooper Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick.

The New York Jets (1-0) signed veteran wide receivers Sterling Shepard and Tyler Johnson to their practice squad on Tuesday and promoted nickelback Jordan Clark to the 53-man roster. These moves follow a season-opening victory over the Tennessee Titans where first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr. suffered a sprained ankle in the first quarter and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick strained his groin on the sixth defensive snap. According to ESPN, Cooper is considered week-to-week with a potential four-week recovery timeline, while Fitzpatrick is expected to miss at least the upcoming game against the Green Bay Packers.

Shepard, 33, joins the Jets after recording 34 receptions for 349 yards and one touchdown with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season. Johnson, 28, returns to the franchise after appearing in 12 games for the Jets in 2025, where he tallied 197 yards and one score. The additions address a depleted receiving corps that currently features starters Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell alongside Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith, with Tim Patrick already on injured reserve.

Defensively, the promotion of Clark provides depth for a secondary missing Fitzpatrick, who was acquired via trade from the Miami Dolphins during the offseason. The Jets defense enters Week 2 seeking to end a streak of 18 consecutive games without an interception, currently the longest drought in NFL history. Dane Belton and Andre Cisco are the projected starters at safety for Sunday's matchup at MetLife Stadium.