Jets sign ex-49ers wide receiver after injury to DT Sheffield

The New York Jets made a minor roster move on Wednesday morning, waiving wide receiver DT Sheffield with an injury designation and signing ex-San Francisco 49ers seventh-round draft pick Junior Bergen, per the team's website.

Sheffield, an undrafted free agent signed shortly after the 2026 NFL Draft, was always a long shot to make the roster. The former Rutgers standout had a small frame, standing at 5-foot-7 and weighing in at 175 pounds.

Bergen, on the other hand, has a year of NFL experience under his belt. He spent the entire 2025 season on San Francisco's practice squad, but was waived earlier in August. He now finds himself in New York with several weeks to carve out a role with the Jets.

The Jets already seem to have a fairly set-in-stone wide receiver depth chart, meaning it will be difficult for any fringe pass catcher to make the 53-man roster.

Current state of the New York Jets wide receiver room

For the first time in a long time, Jets fans can take solace in the fact that they have a relatively deep group of wide receivers. In years past, it would be hard to have faith in anybody further than Garrett Wilson and half a season of Davante Adams.

Wilson is the headliner of the group, with hopeful breakout star Adonai Mitchell penciled in as the team's No. 2 wide receiver. The early returns on Mitchell's first full offseason with New York have been incredibly positive.

The next three wide receivers have also become increasingly obvious as training camp has progressed. Isaiah Williams has been an early favorite of the coaching staff and was even on the field when the Jets' starting offense took the field last Friday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

After training with Olympic sprinters this offseason, Williams appears primed to take a step forward as an offensive weapon, rather than just a return specialist.

Behind those top three are first-round draft pick Omar Cooper Jr. and veteran Tim Patrick. There's been a bit of an overreaction from Jets fans around Cooper's development, considering the fact that he seems entrenched as a backup despite his draft pedigree.

But it takes time for wide receivers to make the transition to the NFL. Jets fans should remember that Garrett Wilson started his rookie year behind the likes of Corey Davis and Elijah Moore before coming into his own as the No. 1 target as the season progressed.

The sixth wide receiver on the depth chart will likely come down to Arian Smith or a special teams contributor, whichever the Jets feel they need the most heading into the regular season.

Smith feels like the obvious candidate to stick around, considering the current regime invested a fourth-round pick in him just over a year ago.

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