Jermaine

Johnson

Johnson’s year is over. The 2022 first-round pick tore the Achilles during Week 2 against the Titans. Johnson finished with 7.5 sacks in 2024 during his second season, and was expected to be a big part of their pass rush. That won’t happen now, and New York may need to look externally with Haason Riddick unlikely to report to the Jets in the foreseeable future.

Johnson confirmed the diagnosis on his X — formerly known as Twitter — page. The injury occurred in the third quarter when he collided with Will Levis, and he was carted off the field. Johnson will likely miss the rest of the 2024 season, and it’s a big loss for a team that doesn’t know when — or if — Haason Reddick will return to the club.

Johnson was put on a cart after a collision on a Will Levis run in the third quarter. The pass-rusher was dejected, and the team immediately ruled him out with an achilles injury, which is never a good sign. Johnson had 7.5 sacks last year and was being counted on with Haason Reddick still not reporting to the Jets. His loss would be a big one for this pass rush.

Johnson makes his return to the lineup for the first time since Week 5 against the Dolphins. The Jets have more good news as they’ll have James Robinson in the lineup this week after he popped up as questionable a few days ago (knee). The Jets will need all resources available to compete with the AFC-leading Bills.

Saleh wouldn’t offer specifics on Johnson’s injury, but said that it is not believed to be severe. We’ll know more on Johnson’s status later in the week as the Jets prepare for their Week 6 matchup against the Packers. Johnson, who the Jets selected with the 26th overall pick in this year’s draft, has 12 tackles and 1.5 sacks this season.

Johnson figures to have a good chance at early playing time on the Jets defensive line. Carl Lawson is rehabbing from an Achilles tear, Jacob Martin signed a modest contract in free agency, and John Franklin-Myers is the incumbent starter on one edge. At the very least, Johnson should be an early passing-downs rusher. He could become more than that depending on how the Jets want to move him around.

The Jets traded picks 35, 69, and 163 to the Titans for 26 and 101. Coming into the night, Johnson was a sleeper to be a top-five pick, and some had the Jets taking him at No. 4 overall. Instead, the Jets have added CB Sauce Gardner at four, WR Garrett Wilson with the 10th pick, and now Johnson. What a haul. Few players took advantage of the pre-draft process like Johnson (6’5/254), who gave opposing tackles all they could handle during Senior Bowls practices before posting a superb 4.58 forty that ranks in the 98th-percentile and a 10-foot-5 broad jump that ranks in the 96th of all edge rushers since 1987. After a winding road with stops at a community college and Georgia, everything came together for Johnson after he transferred to Florida State in 2021, putting himself on the radar by generating 12.0 sacks, 25 hurries, and seven hits. His 70 total tackles were the most for any defensive lineman in the Power Five and helped to earn him ACC Defensive Player of the Year recognition for his play. While his burst off the snap is average, Johnson is quick to engage his hands and has a decent array of moves he can utilize to set up tackles. His 34-inch arm length and frame are in the perfect range for an edge defender, and he deftly uses stutter and jab steps to get opposing blockers off balance. A long, upright pass rusher who covers a lot of ground with his long strides, Johnson has the speed-to-power transition ability to develop into an every-down starter.

Wilson reports Johnson has been experiencing a “meteoric rise” in his stock. The Jets were amongst Johnson’s pre-draft visits, though we know that doesn’t mean very much. The Jets continue to be linked to defense at No. 4, with a receiver seeming more likely for their second first-round selection at No. 10.