For the third time this season, a New York Jets player has been named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. This time, it’s Omar Cooper Jr. nailing the honor.
Cooper returned from the injured reserve list with a bang, catching six passes for 103 yards and a 48-yard touchdown against the New England Patriots. He and Jets tight end Kenyon Sadiq are the first NFL rookie teammates to record 100-yard receiving games within their first three career appearances.
Cooper had been on injured reserve with an ankle injury sustained on opening day against the Tennessee Titans. But in his brief appearance in that game, he had a 30-yard catch and run that opened eyes to his potential.
“What he did is showcase who he is,” QB Geno Smith said. “He’s a playmaker. He’s a guy who finds ways to make catches, and the tough catches, he makes them look easy.”
Smith hit Cooper with a long touchdown in the third quarter at New England. The rookie wideout ran a post route and split safeties Kevin Byard and Craig Woodson to make the catch in the end zone.
For the game, Cooper averaged 17.2 yards per reception, becoming the fifth Jets rookie to average 15-plus yards per catch in a single game in the last 10 seasons, according to Stats Perform.
“It was good to get Coop back,” HC Aaron Glenn said. “For him to come out in his first outing and have over 100 yards, I thought that was outstanding…He’s going to be a player that’s going to help us as we continue to progress during the season.”
Cooper might have had two touchdowns on the day, but had one called back by a penalty.
The second Jets player to win the Rookie of the Week award was edge David Bailey, who leads NFL rookies with 5 sacks.
The Jets play winless Miami this weekend at MetLife Stadium.
