Jermaine Johnson‘s long-awaited comeback from a torn Achilles tendon is on monitor to occur the identical day a former New York Jets teammate makes what’s positive to be a much-hyped return.
Week 1 at MetLife Stadium — in opposition to Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“We truly have been simply texting final night time,” a smiling Johnson mentioned of Rodgers on Tuesday after the primary observe of the Jets’ three-day obligatory minicamp. “It is humorous. However clearly, I am excited. He is excited.”
Johnson, a promising edge rusher who was coming off his first Professional Bowl choice, tore his proper Achilles tendon in Week 2 final 12 months and missed the remainder of the season. Coach Aaron Glenn mentioned the 2022 first-round draft decide must be “shut” to being prepared for coaching camp in July and will begin on the bodily unable to carry out checklist, “however he’ll be prepared for the season.”
Throughout the early days of his restoration, Johnson was comforted by Rodgers, who made a comeback of his personal final season after tearing his left Achilles tendon 4 snaps into his debut with the Jets in 2023. Rodgers was launched by New York within the offseason, signed final week with Pittsburgh and made his observe debut with the Steelers on Tuesday.
“It was a pleasure having Aaron round and stuff like that, and I want him one of the best,” Johnson mentioned. “However after I get between these strains, there is not any buddies. And I feel he is aware of that, and he feels the identical, so I am excited.
“It is simply one other sport, however for me, it may be my first sport again, and there is plenty of feelings. And when my feelings run excessive, I are inclined to play fairly effectively.”
Johnson declined to say what he and Rodgers texted about Monday night time, however acknowledged the quarterback was instrumental in serving to get his thoughts proper as he ready for the robust restoration and rehabilitation.
“Very first thing he mentioned, he is like, ‘You’ll be good. You’ve got received a 10-year-plus profession right here. You are all proper. Chalk it up,'” Johnson recalled. “It simply form of let me settle down slightly bit and have the ability to collect myself and simply take it on the chin and deal with it and do a great job at it. In order that’s how I’ve attacked it. Aaron’s been an amazing assist in so some ways.”
Regardless of the uncertainty over the damage, Glenn and the Jets confirmed their perception in Johnson as a part of their protection transferring ahead after they picked up his fifth-year contract possibility, together with these of fellow 2022 first-rounders Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson.
“It was a giant funding,” Johnson mentioned. “They’ve seen sufficient of me and heard sufficient about me that they’re prepared to dive into that for at the very least another 12 months. So it means rather a lot to me. I’m at all times a person of my phrase and a person of honor, so to me, that’s them lifting their finish of the sofa, and now it’s my flip to raise my finish of the sofa.”
Johnson had 2.5 sacks in 14 video games as a rookie after being drafted twenty sixth general out of Florida State earlier than breaking out with 7.5 sacks in 2023 whereas beginning all 17 video games for New York. He additionally had 16 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss and returned an interception 37 yards for a landing.
Then got here the setback final season, simply as he was blossoming right into a power on the Jets’ protection.
Jermaine Johnson is getting into his fourth NFL season. (Photograph by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Pictures)
“I cried slightly bit like proper after I received harm,” Johnson mentioned. “However I’m only a man a religion, so God wished me to stroll via this, and I took it like that and, you realize, embodied this rehab. And I’ve full confidence I’m gonna come again with out lacking a beat.”
The Jets are banking on that, envisioning Johnson as a key a part of their go rush.
Glenn was a member of the Detroit Lions workers that coached on the Senior Bowl in 2022, and Johnson left an enduring impression on him.
“He is a hard-nosed, bodily, violent participant that is very athletic that has the flexibility to win off the sting and make performs on the quarterback,” Glenn mentioned. “Pay attention, you don’t get plenty of guys which have the athleticism as he does however nonetheless be robust and highly effective to have the ability to maintain in opposition to the run. So I’m excited to see that participant get on the market in coaching camp and going into the primary sport.
“So he’s going to be an enormous a part of what we’re doing. He is aware of that. However once more, he understands what he is received to get higher at, too.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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