Sterling Shepard, formerly of the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, joined the New York Jets' practice squad on Tuesday after signing with them quickly following a call from the team. The Jets needed him as a replacement for injured rookie Omar Cooper Jr. Shepard is now adjusting to the Jets’ playbook and practicing in preparation for possibly playing against the Packers this Sunday. He has been training solo since leaving the Texans in training camp, highlighting his need to get back into game shape and regain chemistry with new teammates like quarterback Geno Smith.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Sterling Shepard, a former Giants receiver who played for them from 2016 to 2023, joined the Jets practice squad on Tuesday. The move came after rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. sprained his ankle during the Jets' season-opening win against the Titans and is now week-to-week. Shepard, who spent the last two seasons with the Buccaneers, was called to Florida while picking up his kids from school on Monday and hopped a flight to New Jersey soon after. He plans to get caught up with the Jets playbook quickly in case he's needed for their upcoming game against the Packers this Sunday. Shepard, 33 years old, is excited to be back in his second home state of New Jersey but now at the Jets facility in Florham Park rather than East Rutherford where the Giants are based.
Written for “Sterling Shepard Joins Jets” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Sterling Shepard was picking his kids up from school in Florida on Monday when the Jets called.
asserted
Jets → pick → Monday
The team needed a wide receiver after rookie Omar Cooper Jr. suffered a sprained ankle in Sunday’s win over the Titans.
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Jr. → need → Titans
Take flight with the Jets
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he → take → field
tRY IT NOW“They said, ‘Can you hop on a flight in a few hours?’”
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you → try → hours
Shepard said
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Shepard → say → ?
“I was like, ‘I’m there, I’m there.’
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I → ’m → ?
Shepard worked out for the Jets on Tuesday and they signed him to the practice squad.
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they → work → squad
The former Giant is now trying to get up to speed on the Jets playbook.
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Giant → try → playbook
Shepard spent the past two seasons with the Buccaneers after playing for the Giants for eight seasons.
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Shepard → spend → seasons
Now, he’s back in New Jersey but in Florham Park instead of East Rutherford.
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he → ’ → Park
“I actually just sold my house last month here in Jersey, so I was like, ‘What are the chances?’ ” Shepard said.
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Shepard → sell → Jersey
He said New Jersey is like his second home, so he is excited to return.
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he → say → home
The Jets could need him to play Sunday against the Packers.
uncertain
him → need → Packers
Shepard spent five days with the Texans in training camp, but other than that he has been working on his own.
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he → spend → own
“I’ve just got to get caught up,” Shepard said.
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Shepard → get → ?
“I’ve got to get my body back in pads shape.
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body → get → shape
It’s kind of hard to simulate, going against another guy.
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It → ’ → guy
I’ve been running routes on air by myself for the past year.
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I → run → year
It’s just great to have somebody in front of me now.”
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It → ’ → me
Shepard should have chemistry with his new quarterback.
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Shepard → have → quarterback
He played with Jets quarterback Geno Smith with the Giants and the two live near each other in Florida and have worked out together.
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two → play → Florida
Jets coach Aaron Glenn praised the performance of rookie edge rusher David Bailey in his debut Sunday against the Titans.
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Glenn → praise → Titans
Bailey was credited with six pressures and had a sack when he chased Titans quarterback Cam Ward out of bounds.
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he → credit → bounds
“I thought he did some good things,” Glenn said.
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Glenn → think → things
“There are definitely some things that he has to improve on, and that’s going to be every player.
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that → be → that
He’s a rookie and he’s still learning.
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he → ’ → ?
I thought he’s shown flashes of him being able to get off the ball and get after the quarterback.
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him → think → quarterback
Then being able to set an edge and do all the things that we ask those edge guys to do.
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we → set → guys
He’s only going to get better.
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He → go → ?
He’s only going to get better.
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He → go → ?
Glenn said safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin) and Cooper (ankle) are “week to week” with their injuries, which means they won’t play this week.
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they → say → injuries
RB Kene Nwangwu (back) and Edge Joseph Ossai (foot) are also week to week and did not practice on Wednesday.
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Nwangwu → practice → Wednesday
DL David Onyemata was given a vet rest day Wednesday.
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Onyemata → give → day
Rookie CB D’Angelo Ponds (calf) and LB Jamien Sherwood (knee) were limited.
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Ponds → limit → ?
The Aporia
