How Will the Jets Former 2022 First Round Pick Fare After Injury?
While Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson might be the most talked-about first-round picks of the 2022 draft class for the New York Jets, Jermaine Johnson brings so much to the table for the team. After a breakout sophomore season in 2023, Johnson was poised to continue his run in 2024 before an Achilles injury in Week Two hurt his campaign. This season, Johnson will look forward to officially making his comeback to the defensive side of the ball. With a defense that certainly struggled in many facets last season, they will welcome him with open arms.
Yesterday, the Jets officially put Johnson on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which will limit his use in training camp this summer. While this may sound worrying, Johnson took to social media to personally address the move. In a post on X, Johnson said, “I will be on PUP because the team wants to move slow to be safe, which I agree with. Not because I’m not ready. All is well.” Currently, the team and Johnson are aiming for a Week One return.
In 33 games with the Jets, Johnson has logged 10 sacks. Johnson started in 2022 as a backup, playing in 14 games without any starts. In 2023, he took on a starting role on the defensive line and logged 55 total tackles and seven and a half sacks. With this great sophomore season, Johnson was named to his first Pro Bowl team. As a mainstay on the defensive line, Johnson elevated the team around him, and understandably so; his injury impacted the overall consistency of the unit in 2024.
With his breakout season in 2023, all signs were pointing towards Johnson continuing his success in 2024. Instead, Johnson suffered an Achilles injury against the Tennessee Titans in the second game, ending his season with only four total tackles. With a new-look defensive line under head coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, the way Johnson will be used when healthy is currently a question mark. The Jets will enter the 2025 season with a much healthier and stronger defense, and hopefully, the return of Johnson will usher in some wins for New York.
