New York Jets’ Jermaine Johnson suffers a season-ending Achilles injury during a 24-17 win over the Titans.
With the Jets’ defensive line weakened, how will they handle their upcoming games, and will this affect the Haason Reddick holdout?
Let’s find out.
- Jermaine Johnson is likely out for the season after a serious Achilles injury, leaving a big hole in the Jets’ defense.
- This injury puts more pressure on the Jets to figure out Haason Reddick’s contract holdout.
- Will McDonald stepped up with three sacks, helping the Jets finish strong in their win against the Titans.
Jermaine Johnson’s Achilles Injury Ends His Season
On social media Monday, New York Jets’ Jermaine Johnson confirmed that his right Achilles is torn, meaning he will miss the rest of the season.
Johnson, one of the Jets’ rising stars, suffered the injury during their 24-17 win over the Tennessee Titans.
In his post, Johnson said, “This is not a dark time for me, although there will be dark days ahead.” And his optimism shines through despite the tough situation, which is commendable.
Thank everyone for all the prayers and support! This is not a dark time for me ,although there will be dark days ahead, this is Gods way for me to not only grow as a man, person and player but to also inspire others to as well!! 11 will be back and better, BOOK IT🫡🙏🏾🖤… pic.twitter.com/DZm2fy6ggQ
— Jermaine Johnson II (@ii_jermaine) September 16, 2024
Head coach Robert Saleh expressed deep concern post-game, saying, “It’s unfortunately looking like that,” referring to the feared Achilles tear.
Johnson, who had made the Pro Bowl the previous season as an injury replacement, went down in the third quarter while attempting to sack Titans quarterback Will Levis.
The non-contact injury occurred during a pass rush, and teammates gathered around him as medical staff brought out the injury cart.
Johnson, popular among his teammates, was clearly emotional after the injury, with a towel covering his head as he was carted off the field.
Of course, the scene shook the team, with many expressing their heartbreak.
“My heart kind of dropped a little bit,” said quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who had experienced a similar Achilles injury in 2023.
He added, “He’s a young player. He’ll have a long career, and there are a lot of great people to take care of him.”
Johnson’s Emotional Response and Hope for Recovery
Despite the tough situation, Johnson shared an inspiring message on social media, confirming his Achilles tear but staying positive.
“Thank everyone for all the prayers and support! This is not a dark time for me, although there will be dark days ahead, this is God’s way for me to not only grow as a man, person, and player but also to inspire others as well!! 11 will be back and better, BOOK IT,” Johnson wrote.
As we discussed earlier, the injury happened during a pass-rush attempt, and Johnson later said he initially thought someone had stepped on his foot. After watching the replay, he realized it was a non-contact injury.
While Johnson admitted to shedding some tears, he remained hopeful and said he’d bounce back after a brief mourning period.
Undoubtedly, the injury has left the Jets with a massive void on their defensive line, as Johnson was expected to play a major role in the team’s pass-rushing strategy.
This loss, coupled with an already depleted defense, raises serious concerns for the team moving forward.
Defensive Adjustments and Haason Reddick Holdout Complications
With Johnson officially out for the season, the Jets now face an even bigger challenge in maintaining their defensive strength.
As a result, the setback increases the urgency of resolving Haason Reddick’s contract holdout.
The veteran edge rusher has been holding out, missing all of training camp and the offseason as he pushes for a better deal.
Reddick, who has 58 career sacks, was expected to be a part of the Jets’ defense this season.
And he was supposed to be a big part of the Jets’ defense, especially with Johnson.
But since Reddick hasn’t been playing, the Jets have relied on other guys, like first-round pick Will McDonald, who had a huge game against the Titans with three sacks, matching his total from last year.
Coach Saleh praised McDonald’s performance, saying, “If he continues to develop like that, he could be a double-digit sack guy in this league.”
While McDonald stepped up, Johnson’s injury could push the Jets to end the holdout with Reddick, as they need more help on the defensive line.
It’s now up to General Manager Joe Douglas to either get Reddick back on the field or find another solution.
Additional Injuries Piling Up for Jets’ Defense
Johnson’s injury wasn’t the only setback for the Jets. Linebacker C.J. Mosley left in the second quarter with a toe injury and didn’t return. And, naturally, Coach Saleh hopes Mosley will be ready for the Jets’ next game against the New England Patriots.
On top of that, cornerback D.J. Reed was a late scratch due to a knee issue, leaving the defense even more short-handed.
Despite all these injuries, the Jets’ defense still delivered. McDonald shined with his three sacks, and Solomon Thomas added another.
In a key moment, safety Tony Adams helped seal the win by breaking up a critical pass from Titans QB Will Levis in the game’s final moments.
As you can imagine, Coach Saleh was proud of how his players kept fighting despite losing some key players.
“The resilience of the guys to put it to the side for the last quarter and do what we needed to do,” he said after the game.
Managing Injuries and Contract Negotiations
With Jermaine Johnson officially out for the season, the Jets have some tough decisions ahead.
Johnson’s absence leaves a massive hole in their defensive line, and this could force the Jets to accelerate contract talks with Haason Reddick or look for other solutions to keep their pass rush strong.
Their next game is against the New England Patriots, and they’ll need to regroup quickly. Even if they sign Reddick soon, he’ll unlikely be ready to play in time.
The Jets also hope C.J. Mosley and D.J. Reed will be healthy enough to return for the game.
Aside from the injuries, the Jets’ defense showed they can step up when needed, and they’ll need that same determination moving forward.
