Jets place 2026 draftees Anez Cooper and VJ Payne on injured reserve ahead of initial 53-man roster

The New York Jets set their initial 53-man roster while placing two of their 2026 draft picks, guard Anez Cooper and safety VJ Payne, on injured reserve. Both players were designated to return, meaning they are on the injured list now but can become eligible to rejoin the active roster after the team reaches the required regular-season time threshold.

Cooper, a sixth-round selection, and Payne, a seventh-round selection, each landed on injured reserve during the roster finalization period before the regular-season begins. The Jets’ designation of both players for return suggests the team expects them to be part of its longer-term depth plans, rather than treating the injuries as season-ending setbacks.

In practical terms, designation to return places a timeline on their potential comeback. As reported in connection with New York’s transaction window, both Cooper and Payne are eligible to come back after the first four games of the regular season, assuming they are cleared and the Jets choose to activate them.

The Jets’ initial roster move also underscores a common NFL calculus: teams often balance immediate roster needs with the development value of draft picks. While Cooper and Payne will not contribute on game days early in the season, keeping them within an organized return framework can protect roster flexibility and preserve their development reps for later in the year.

For New York, the early-season impact is primarily about depth, particularly at safety and along the interior of the offensive line. With Cooper and Payne starting the year on IR, the Jets will lean on the players already on the 53-man roster to fill those roles until either player becomes available.

Whether either Cooper or Payne returns quickly could depend on the timing of the medical clearing process and the Jets’ evaluation of matchups once the season’s first month has passed. If the team activates them right at the earliest eligibility point, it could add both size and athleticism to key units during the stretch where roster stability often matters.

What to watch next is the Jets’ first regular-season four games, followed by any formal activation moves. If New York keeps the players on IR past that window, the decision would likely reflect either a continued recovery timetable or a roster preference to wait until later matchups.

As always with injured reserve designations, the official status can change only through team action and league transaction processing, and the practical timeline can hinge on fitness updates. Still, the Jets have taken a clear early stance: two 2026 picks are being managed as return-eligible pieces rather than lost assets.