Omar Cooper Jr. will make his NFL regular-season debut on Sunday in Nashville wearing a number he has not worn since high school. The rookie receiver has switched from No. 83 to No. 11, and the change went through during game week rather than in the quiet of the offseason.
Jets rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. has changed from No. 83 to No. 11 ahead of his expected debut against the Titans. He wore 11 at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, and kicker Blake Grupe released the number so Cooper could reclaim it.
Why did Omar Cooper Jr. change his number?
Because 11 was his in the first place. Cooper wore it at Lawrence North in Indianapolis, and getting it back mattered more to him than the number itself did.
“I didn’t want a number to just say who I was as a player,” Cooper said, “but just having that number back to what I had in high school, it felt amazing.”
How did No. 11 come free?
A teammate gave it up. Blake Grupe, the kicker the Jets added recently and who now wears No. 4, released the number.
“That number was available,” Cooper said. “Well, actually Blake Grupe allowed me to switch it. So grateful to him for allowing me to switch it up.” Grupe arrived in the middle of a kicking competition the Jets had still not resolved this week.
What did the Jets give up to draft him?
A second-round pick and change. Cooper was the Jets third first-round selection in April, taken 30th overall after the team sent No. 33 — the top pick of round two — and No. 179 to San Francisco to move back into round one.
At 6-0 and 199 pounds, he arrived from Indiana, where he wore No. 3. He had 69 receptions for 937 yards and 13 touchdowns in his last college season, and finished his career with 115 catches for 1,798 yards and 22 scores across 42 games.
What has he shown so far?
Flashes, and a rookie’s dissatisfaction with them. Cooper played in the first two preseason games and had his best moment in the win over Tampa Bay on August 14, catching two passes for 31 yards including a 26-yard reception from Bailey Zappe.
“It wasn’t my best,” he said of camp. “I feel like I got a lot better though.”
Where does he fit in a crowded receiver room?
Behind established players, and he knows it. The room includes Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Isaiah Williams, Tim Patrick and Arian Smith, and Cooper credited the veterans with speeding up his development.
He was also clear-eyed about how targets work. “You could win every route and maybe you’re not designed to get the ball,” he said. “It helps you stay humble.”
Full career detail sits on his Omar Cooper Jr. player page, and the rest of the depth chart is on the Jets roster hub.
Frequently asked questions
What number does Omar Cooper Jr. wear for the Jets?
He wears No. 11. He spent training camp and the preseason in No. 83 and made the switch during game week.
Why did Omar Cooper Jr. change his jersey number?
No. 11 was the number he wore at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, and he wanted it back once it became available.
Who gave up No. 11 for Omar Cooper Jr.?
Kicker Blake Grupe, who signed recently and now wears No. 4, released the number so Cooper could take it.
Where did the Jets draft Omar Cooper Jr.?
He was the Jets third first-round pick in the April 2026 draft, taken 30th overall after the team traded No. 33 and No. 179 to San Francisco to move back into round one.
What were Omar Cooper Jr. college numbers at Indiana?
He played 42 games and finished with 115 catches for 1,798 yards, an average of 15.6 per reception, and 22 touchdowns.
Which former Jets wore No. 11?
Receivers Robby Anderson, Jeremy Kerley and Denzel Mims all wore the number before him.