Omar Cooper Jr., the New York Jets’ 30th overall pick from the 2026 NFL Draft, has been designated to return to practice, giving New York some breathing room as they navigate an offense without three key starters. But hold up, Emerald City. While we’re all focused on our reigning Super Bowl Champion Seahawks, the Jets’ defense is actually tied for fifth in the league, averaging 19.2 points allowed per game. Yeah, you read that right: that’s *slightly ahead* of our very own Hawks.
A Rookie Returns, But the Offense Still Has Holes
Look, Cooper Jr.’s return is big for them. He was their 30th overall pick for a reason, right? The rookie wide receiver has been sidelined on Injured Reserve since Week 1 with an ankle sprain he picked up against the Titans. It severely limited their receiving options, especially after Adonai Mitchell got hit with a nagging finger injury before their Week 3 loss to the Lions. Now, they’re heading into Gillette Stadium this week to face the New England Patriots, who are also getting some big names back with Christian Gonzalez and A.J. Brown returning. It’s a tough road, even after the Jets managed a momentum-boosting Week 5 win against the Cleveland Browns, ending their three-game streak. They pulled that off despite missing star running back Breece Hall, Mitchell, and left guard Dylan Parham. Talk about grit, but still, losing three starters is brutal, and Cooper Jr. brings some needed versatility back.
How Are the Jets’ D-Line Outperforming the Champs?
Here’s the real kicker, the part that should have every single 12s fan doing a double-take. The Jets might be sitting at 2-3, but their defense? It’s legit. After Aaron Glenn took back playcalling duties, it’s paid off big-time, especially with second-overall pick edge rusher David Bailey having a breakout game. They’re only giving up 19.2 points per game, tied for fifth in the entire league with the Chicago Bears! And get this, that’s *slightly ahead* of our reigning Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks. Let that sink in. The reigning champs are behind a 2-3 team in defensive points allowed. What are we even talking about right now?
The offense has also looked more dynamic. Geno Smith, believe it or not, has them at fringe top-15 quarterback production, even with a dip in his performance the past two weeks. They averaged the worst passing yards per game in 2025, but now they’re 23rd, hitting 190 yards per game. Garrett Wilson is tearing it up too, currently seventh in catches, 11th in receiving yards, and 12th in touchdown receptions through five weeks, plus noticeable improvements in his contested catch rates. They grabbed Cooper Jr. and Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft for a reason. The talent is there, and they’re already 66% of the way to tying last year’s 3-14 win total, which is a major upgrade after starting 0-7 last season. But that defensive stat? That’s the one that sticks in your craw.
So while the Jets get a versatile rookie back, the real storyline for us Emerald City faithful is that defensive comparison. Our Super Bowl Champion Hawks need to be locking it down, and a 2-3 team shouldn’t be showing them up on the stats sheet. The Jets are heading into a tough game against the Patriots, and we’ll be watching to see if their defense can keep it up. But more importantly, it’s a stark reminder for our Hawks: the league is always evolving, and there’s no resting on your laurels, even after hoisting the Lombardi.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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