JETS
Why isn’t Jermaine Johnson playing for the Jets against the Patriots on Thursday Night Football?
The New York Jets were dealt a huge blow when they learned that defensive end Jermaine Johnson had torn his Achilles.
During Sunday’s New York Jets win over the Tennessee Titans, they lost an integral part of their defense when defensive end Jermaine Johnson went down with an injury. Adding insult to injury, they later confirmed that he’d torn his Achilles, an injury that is likely to keep him out not just for this Thursday’s game against the New England Patriots, but for the rest of the season.
Johnson’s injury the same one that kept Aaron Rodgers out last season
Achilles injuries are no joke. In fact, it’s exactly what kept Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers out all season last year. The typical recovery time for this type of injury is around four to six months.
When could Jermaine Johnson return to the Jets?
Despite the grim outlook, Johnson hinted at a possible comeback in the Jets’ postseason. On Wednesday, he made a post on X with the “Dragon Ball Z” character Goku inside of a healing chamber with the caption, “Regular season-ending...*”, implying he could still have a shot at the postseason.
With all the recent advances in medical technology, it is possible Johnson could return sooner than expected, but with an Achilles injury, it’s impossible to say. They are extremely difficult to come back from.
Who will start in Jermaine Johnson’s absence?
Johnson’s injury puts added pressure on the Jets to get something figured out with edge rusher Haason Reddick, who’s been holding out since he was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles in the spring. Reddick and the Jets are in a contract dispute and his holdout during the first two games has already cost him more than $5 million in fines plus $792,000 per game.
Johnson recorded 7.5 sacks last season and made the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement. Without him or Reddick on the edge, the Jets are alarmingly thin. Bryce Huff and John Franklin-Myers both left for other teams after the 2023 season.
Now, the Jets are relying on Michael Clemons and Will McDonald to be their starters. McDonald recorded three sacks in the Jets’ victory over the Titans and narrowly missed a fourth towards the end of the game.
The Jets may also be without one other defensive starter in tonight’s game against the Patriots as linebacker C.J. Mosley is dealing with a toe injury and has officially been listed as questionable. Fortunately, cornerbacks Michael Carter II and D.J. Reed, who were dealing with an ankle and knee injury, respectively, will play in tonight’s game.
The Patriots take on the Jets tonight at 8:15 p.m. ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. You can follow along with the action with live text commentary brought to you by our very own Dane Arlauckas right here on AS USA.