Jermaine Johnson ready to be a ‘trump card’ in long-awaited Jets return

Jermaine Johnson knows there will be a moment Sept. 7 when it hits him.

Nearly one year after tearing the Achilles tendon in his right ankle, the Jets edge rusher will be back on an NFL field to take on the Steelers. Johnson will remember the dark days of last year when he was forced to watch his team struggle without him. He will think about the hours spent rehabbing the injury and the long journey back.

“I know it’s going to be emotional for me just because it was a long, long road,” Johnson said Wednesday. “I tend not to get distracted. This is bigger than myself. Every week is important. I’ve got to be what I’ve got to be to win, and that’s what my brain’s going to be focused on most. I’m sure I’ll bask in it a little bit before the game, but when that clock starts, I’ll be locked in.”

The Jets are a different defense with a healthy Johnson returning this season. It felt like he was on the verge of having a monster season in 2024 before he fell to the ground in Week 2 against the Titans after his Achilles popped. Johnson had 7.5 sacks in 2023 after playing sparingly as a rookie.