Tuesday’s fire sale wasn’t just a shock to New York Jets fans — it left a shaken locker room in its wake.

Following the trades of All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, the 51 other players on the active roster are now left to pick up the pieces.

The trade deadline could have gone even worse for New York’s short-term talent. Running back Breece Hall, linebacker Quincy Williams, and edge rusher Jermaine Johnson were all mentioned in trade discussions throughout the day.

While those players ultimately stayed put, the whirlwind of speculation and departures may have left a sour taste. After Williams was dealt, rumors claimed that Hall “wants out,” though the Jets seemingly did not receive an offer they felt was fair value.

But what about Johnson?

Rather than asking out, the former first-round pick doubled down on his commitment to the Jets organization — and to its fan base.

Johnson addresses future with Jets

As two of the team’s top defensive playmakers were traded, Johnson remained firm in his belief that he was wanted in Florham Park — and that the feeling was mutual.

Over a week before the deadline, he told Jets X-Factor that he had received assurances from the front office despite swirling rumors.

And after Tuesday’s deadline passed, he made his position crystal clear in a message posted to X, formerly Twitter:

“I’d be lying if I said I was happy my brothers are gone, because I’m not — I’m sick,” Johnson wrote. “But I believe strongly in the organization, staff, and my other brothers in the locker room. I said when I got drafted, I wanted to be the reason or part of the reason this thing gets changed for the better, and that’s going to continue to be my outlook.

“I love this team and this fan base, and y’all will continue to get my all — my absolute best on and off the field. Let’s look onward and upward because better things are coming, and I give my word on that. Go Jets always.”

Since being selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, Johnson has been a steady professional. He earned a Pro Bowl nod in 2023 after a 7.5-sack season and has tallied 11 sacks across his four seasons with the team.

Despite suffering an Achilles injury during the 2024 campaign, Johnson has remained a central part of the team’s future, at least in the eyes of head coach Aaron Glenn.

Of course, Glenn said similar things about Gardner before trading him away.

Still, with the deadline behind them, Johnson remains in green and white. And while frustration may linger throughout the locker room, the Florida State product is grateful to call Florham Park home.