Marcus Cooper
AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

The New York Jets added cornerback depth on Wednesday afternoon, bringing veteran Marcus Cooper, most recently of the Detroit Lions.

The New York Jets signed veteran cornerback Marcus Cooper on Wednesday afternoon according to the team’s website. In a corresponding move, the team released tight end Nick Truesdell.

The move marks a return to New Jersey for Cooper. He played three seasons with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Piscataway.

Cooper would go on to become a seventh-round pick (252nd overall) of the San Francisco 49ers in 2013. San Francisco would cut him prior to the regular season, but he was immediately picked up by the Kansas City Chiefs. He would go on to spend three seasons in Kansas City before being traded to Arizona in 2016.

In a single season with the Cardinals, Cooper had 69 tackles and led the team with four interceptions. Two of those came in a 40-7 win over Tampa Bay, one of which was returned 60 yards for a touchdown. He would be named a Pro Bowl alternate for his efforts.

Cooper signed with Chicago the next season. He would go on to star in one of the more egregious bloopers in recent NFL history. While taking back a blocked field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cooper had an open field ahead of him, but pulled up a yard short of the goal line to celebrate.

The ball was subsequently stripped from him, denying the Bears a potential 21-7 lead. Chicago would escape the gaffe with a field goal thanks to a Pittsburgh penalty in the ensuing fumble scrum. The Bears triumphed in overtime 23-17.

Last season was spent with both the Bears and Detroit Lions after he was released by the former in November. The Lions released Cooper on Monday, allowing the Jets to pick him up. For his career, Cooper has earned 154 tackles and seven interceptions.

Cooper takes the roster spot of Truesdell, who finds himself released by the Jets twice in the span of eight days. The tight end, who has yet to play in a regular-season game in the NFL, has made appearances in several other professional leagues, including the Arena Football League and Alliance of American Football.

The Jets return to preseason action on Thursday night on the road against the Atlanta Falcons (7:30 p.m. ET, WCBS).

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