Six snaps, then nothing
Minkah Fitzpatrick is set to miss multiple games. The New York Jets safety is dealing with a groin injury picked up on opening day in Nashville, when his side beat the Titans. He lasted just six snaps.
There was nothing dramatic about the play. Fitzpatrick was in coverage near the sideline, slipped to the turf, then immediately grabbed the top of his left thigh. He did not return.
According to multiple reports, he will be out at least a week and a return by Week 3 looks unlikely. The Jets are expected to add safety Dean Clark to the practice squad to help cover the lost depth.
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The thinking behind no IR move
Neither Fitzpatrick nor rookie Omar Cooper Jr. will be placed on injured reserve, according to NFL Network. The receiver, who left the opener with an ankle issue, is not expected on Sunday and will be re-evaluated week to week.
It is no small call. Putting a player on IR means a minimum absence of four games. With both men listed as week-to-week, the franchise would rather keep the door open, even if that means heading into the next few Sundays short-handed. It is a classic early-season gamble, when every win matters in the wild-card race.
A receiver room getting thinner by the day
The position was already stretched before Cooper went down. Tim Patrick was placed on short-term IR on Monday, which opened a spot on the roster. The hole widened within 24 hours.
The Jets started looking at veteran free agents on Tuesday. Darius Slayton, the former Giants starter, is among the names being floated.
Nothing unusual there in mid-September, when NFL rosters are in constant flux. What is a bit more eye-catching is losing a defender of this calibre after just six plays.
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