Jets preseason opener revealed concerning truth about Omar Cooper Jr.’s role

In the final days leading up to Friday’s preseason opener, Isaiah Williams’ surge up the New York Jets’ receiver depth chart this summer made it easy to forget about rookie Omar Cooper Jr.

So for some, seeing Williams draw the start against the Buccaneers might have been a surprise. Why wouldn’t Aaron Glenn and the Jets want to unleash the No. 30 pick, especially in a semi-meaningful exhibition game?

Cooper spent Friday with the second-team offense and finished with two catches for 31 yards. Williams did not have a ball thrown his way. 

The New York Jets confirmed the truth about Omar Cooper Jr. on Friday night

As spicy a take as it might be, credit to Glenn and Frank Reich for not forcing Cooper in with the starters. Williams has all but officially earned the No. 3 receiver spot behind Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, so giving him the starting nod — even if he didn’t play beyond the first quarter — made sense.

Cooper would be a backup receiver and potential special teams contributor if the season began tomorrow. That’s how things have been trending for weeks, especially after Mitchell’s dominant offseason and training camp.

Let’s not forget, though, that Reich’s offense heavily utilizes tight ends. Additionally, Glenn has been vocal in saying he wants to throw more to the running backs. Jets quarterbacks connected with 12 players for at least one catch on Friday night; embattled receiver Arian Smith dropped his lone target, which the Buccaneers then grabbed for an interception.

SNY’s Connor Hughes called Cooper a “unique receiver,” largely because of his ability to extend plays after a catch. The ex-Indiana standout had a 26-yard catch-and-run on Friday night, the longest of any Jets player.

“What he does well isn’t really something that shows up in practice,” Hughes wrote. “He’s not super electric or fast. He doesn’t run the best routes. He’s a player you want to get the ball to, then step away as he makes magic happen.”

That’s all well and good, but Cooper is a rookie fighting for snaps. What he does in practice must matter, because the Jets must know that they can trust him. An older, more established receiver can survive with their strengths only truly coming out on game day. Cooper isn’t in that place yet, and it’ll be some time before he’d potentially fit into that category.

Hughes added that Cooper must show that “magic” more consistently to take some of the reps away from Williams. That’s assuming, though, that the Jets are open (pun not intended) to throwing Cooper’s way more when the season starts, or if they’ve already made up their mind.

That said, Cooper has two more preseason games to turn on the Jets and validate their decision to trade up for him. Let’s see whether Reich makes him a more significant part of the game plan against the Steelers. 

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