Jets place rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. on injured reserve with a sprained ankle

The New York Jets placed rookie wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. on injured reserve on Saturday, sidelining the first-round draft pick for at least four games.

Cooper, the 30th overall pick and third of New York’s first-rounders in April, sprained an ankle in his NFL debut last Sunday at Tennessee. The former Indiana star started and had a 30-yard catch-and-run that set up the Jets’ touchdown on their opening drive in a 23-10 victory.

Cooper had already been ruled out to play in New York’s home opener Sunday against Green Bay.

Coach Aaron Glenn said earlier in the week the team thought Cooper and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin) would avoid IR. But the injury for Cooper was significant enough that the Jets want to give him a few weeks to rest and recover.

New York signed veterans Sterling Shepard and Tyler Johnson to the practice squad earlier this week, but didn’t add either ahead of the game against the Packers to help offset Cooper’s absence. The Jets have Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Isaiah Williams and Arian Smith as healthy wide receivers on the active roster, along with five tight ends: rookie Kenyon Sadiq, Jeremy Ruckert, Mason Taylor, Jelani Woods and Andrew Beck, who’s also listed as a fullback.

Kicker Jason Sanders was elevated from the practice squad for the second game in a row, as Glenn said Friday would be the case. Sanders, who got the nod over Blake Grupe, made a 33-yard field goal in the second quarter last week, but then missed badly on a 54-yard attempt. He bounced back by making field goals of 51 and 52 yards. Sanders also converted his two extra-point tries.

Veteran linebacker Troy Reeder, who played for the Los Angeles Rams the last three seasons, was also elevated to the active roster. He has 298 career tackles with five sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles in seven NFL seasons. Reeder played with the Chargers in 2022 after his first three-year stint with the Rams.

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