Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is anticipating a Week 1 return from edge rusher Jermaine Johnson after he missed most of the 2024 season due to a ruptured Achilles, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
Johnson did not participate in spring practices and will likely be placed on the PUP list at the start of training camp in July. He will have plenty of time to ramp up before rejoining the Jets’ new-look defense under Glenn.
The 2022 first-round pick injured his Achilles in Week 2 last year, interrupting his ascension after a 7.5-sack performance in 2023. Johnson underwent surgery from the same doctor that repaired then-teammate Aaron Rodgers‘ Achilles tear in 2023, per Cimini, and spent the rest of year on the sidelines. The pass rusher even acknowledged that the former Jets QB helped him “so much” as he navigated his introduction to rehab.
“The first thing he said was, ‘You’ll be good, you’ve got a 10-year-plus career. You’re all right, chalk it up,’” Johnson said (via Cimini). “It just kind of let me calm down a little bit and be able to gather myself, take it on the chin and handle it, and do a good job at it. So that’s how I’ve attacked it, and Aaron’s been a huge help.”
The Jets got little production from their other edge rushers during Johnson’s absence last year outside of 2023 first-rounder Will McDonald. McDonald took over a starting role after Johnson’s injury and broke out with a team-high 10.5 sacks after recording just three as a rookie.
While Johnson is sidelined during practice, the Jets can get an extended look at their depth options. The team used a fifth-round pick on Tyler Baron, and the Miami product could be penciled in as the first edge rusher off the bench. The team is also rostering the likes of Michael Clemons, Eric Watts, and Braiden McGregor.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.