Sterling Shepard Joins Jets After Last-Minute Call

Sterling Shepard was in Florida, picking up his kids from school, when the Jets reached out to him. They needed a wide receiver after rookie Omar Cooper Jr. sprained his ankle during their win against the Titans on Sunday.

“They asked if I could catch a flight in a few hours,” Shepard recalled. “And I was like, ‘Absolutely, I’m on it!’ It’s been a really fast turnaround.”

On Tuesday, Shepard worked out for the Jets, and soon after, they signed him to their practice squad.

Now, he’s diving into the Jets’ playbook to get up to speed.

Shepard, who previously spent eight seasons with the Giants, has been with the Buccaneers for the last two years.

Interestingly, he’s back in New Jersey—specifically in Florham Park, which feels quite different from East Rutherford.

“I just sold my house here in Jersey last month, so it’s wild that this happened,” Shepard mentioned, almost in disbelief.

He expressed excitement about returning to New Jersey, saying it feels like his second home.

With a game against the Packers coming up on Sunday, the Jets may need his experience on the field.

Shepard did have a stint with the Texans during training camp, but aside from that, he’s been training solo.

“I have to catch up,” he acknowledged. “Getting my body back into playing shape is tough. It’s hard to replicate the intensity of game situations when you’re just practicing by yourself. I’ve been running routes alone for quite some time. It feels great to finally have someone to work against.”

Fortunately, he has a connection with Jets quarterback Geno Smith, having played together with the Giants, which should help build that chemistry quickly. They even live near each other in Florida and have worked out together during the off-season.

Jets’ Defense and Injury Updates

In other news, Jets coach Aaron Glenn commended rookie edge rusher David Bailey for his performance in the game against the Titans, where he registered six pressures and a sack.

“He did some good things,” said Glenn. “Of course, there’s room for improvement, which is normal for every player, especially a rookie. He has shown he can get after the quarterback and fulfill the responsibilities we expect from our edge guys. He’ll only continue to progress.”

Regarding injuries, Glenn indicated that safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin) and Cooper (ankle) are “week to week,” so they won’t be available this week. Running back Kene Nwangwu (back) and edge rusher Joseph Ossai (foot) are also listed as week to week and didn’t practice on Wednesday. Defensive lineman David Onyemata took a rest day on Wednesday, while rookie cornerback D’Angelo Ponds (calf) and linebacker Jamien Sherwood (knee) had limited participation.