Jets safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is expected to miss two to three weeks with the groin injury he suffered in the season opener, a reported timeline that would keep him out of Sunday’s home opener against the Green Bay Packers. The team has not yet issued an official Week 2 designation.
The short answer: Fitzpatrick is expected to miss two to three weeks with a groin injury, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. That timeline falls short of the four games injured reserve requires, so an IR move is not expected. Andre Cisco replaced him in the starting lineup.
Fitzpatrick was hurt on the Jets’ first defensive series in Nashville and played just six snaps in his Jets debut. He was ruled out of the opener with a groin injury and did not return. The full week-by-week picture sits on the Jets injury report hub.
How long is Minkah Fitzpatrick expected to be out?
Two to three weeks, according to a report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz published on September 15. That is a reported timeline rather than a team designation — the Jets have not characterized the injury beyond confirming it is a groin injury, and their first official Week 2 practice report was not published as of Wednesday morning.
For scale, the same two-to-three-week range was the reported outlook when Breece Hall missed two to three weeks with a groin strain during the preseason. Hall returned in time to start the opener and ran for 102 yards in the 23-10 win at Tennessee.
Will Minkah Fitzpatrick be placed on injured reserve?
It does not appear likely. A player moved to injured reserve during the season must miss at least four games, and the reported two-to-three-week timeline is shorter than that. The NFL injured reserve rules explain the four-game minimum and the 21-day practice window that follows a designation to return.
Who replaces Minkah Fitzpatrick in the Jets secondary?
Andre Cisco took Fitzpatrick’s place in the starting lineup on Sunday and is the likely answer again. Dane Belton logged every defensive snap in the opener, so a Belton–Cisco pairing is the straightforward projection for as long as Fitzpatrick is unavailable. The unit allowed 10 points and 195 yards in Week 1.
What is the latest on Omar Cooper Jr.?
Further testing confirmed the rookie receiver sprained his ankle, and the Jets are taking a week-to-week approach, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on September 15. Rapoport added there is optimism about a return within the next four games, which would also keep Omar Cooper Jr. off injured reserve.
Cooper left the opener after five snaps, having caught a 30-yard third-down pass from Geno Smith on the Jets’ opening drive. X-rays taken after he exited came back negative, and Tom Pelissero reported on September 13 that the team believed he had suffered a high ankle sprain. The confirmation two days later stated a sprain without restating the grade, and this site is not resolving that difference.
Why did the Jets acquire Fitzpatrick in the first place?
New York traded for the five-time Pro Bowler from the Miami Dolphins in March 2026, and he agreed to a three-year, $40 million extension on arrival. He was one of several defensive additions made this offseason, which is why six snaps in a Jets uniform before an injury lands the way it does.
Frequently asked questions
How long will Minkah Fitzpatrick be out?
He is expected to miss two to three weeks with a groin injury, per a September 15 report from NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The Jets have not issued an official Week 2 injury designation.
Will Minkah Fitzpatrick play against the Green Bay Packers?
A two-to-three-week absence would cover the Week 2 home opener on September 20. The Jets had not designated him for that game as of Wednesday morning.
Is Minkah Fitzpatrick going on injured reserve?
It is not expected. In-season injured reserve requires a minimum absence of four games, and the reported timeline is shorter than that.
Who starts at safety for the Jets without Fitzpatrick?
Andre Cisco replaced him in the starting lineup during the opener, alongside Dane Belton, who played every defensive snap in Week 1.
What happened to Omar Cooper Jr.?
The rookie receiver left the opener after five snaps with an ankle injury. X-rays were negative and further testing confirmed a sprain; the Jets are taking a week-to-week approach, per Ian Rapoport.
When does the Jets Week 2 injury report come out?
The team publishes its practice reports as news articles, usually in the late afternoon Eastern time. The first Week 2 report was not yet available on Wednesday morning.