The New York Jets open their season against the Pittsburgh Steelers in three days, a matchup filled with storylines. Chief among them is Aaron Rodgers’ return to MetLife Stadium.
However, Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson insists his focus won’t be on Gang Green’s former quarterback.
“I don’t care who’s back there,” Johnson told the media. “I got a job to do for this team. Whoever the quarterback is, I get paid to put him down.”
A 2022 first-round selection out of Florida State, Johnson has become a fixture on the Jets’ defensive line. In 33 career games (19 starts), he has totaled 88 tackles (15 for loss) along with 10 sacks, 21 quarterback hits, seven pass breakups, and a forced fumble.
His sophomore season in 2023 showed his potential as an every-down starter. Johnson started all 17 games, finishing with 55 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, seven passes defended, and a pick-six on his way to a Pro Bowl appearance.
But his rise was cut short last fall when he tore his Achilles in Week 2. While he is fully healthy for Sunday, how the Florida State product responds after the season-ending injury remains to be seen.
Now entering his fourth season, Johnson is expected to play a central role in Aaron Glenn’s aggressive front.
If he returns to his prime form, Johnson’s mix of speed and power off the edge could complement Quinnen Williams inside and Will McDonald on the opposite end, giving New York one of the AFC’s most disruptive pass-rush units.