Jermaine Johnson eases Jets fans' concerns after latest injury update

The New York Jets are hoping for a clean bill of health across the board this summer, but few recoveries are more important than that of Jermaine Johnson.

The fourth-year edge rusher is working his way back from the torn Achilles he suffered in Week 2 of last season, and while all signs point to him being ready for the start of the year, the Jets know they can’t afford any setbacks.

The Jets are counting on Johnson to return healthy and productive in 2025, especially given the razor-thin state of their defensive line. That's why the team made the cautious decision to place him on the Active/PUP list to start training camp this past weekend.

Still, any mention of an injury was bound to make fans uneasy, especially given how important Johnson has become to the Jets’ defensive line. Johnson took to social media over the weekend to calm concerns and offer a quick update.

"I will be on PUP because the team wants to move slow to be safe, which I agree with. Not because I’m not ready. All is well."

Jermaine Johnson

Jermaine Johnson still expects to be ready for the Jets' season opener

Johnson was one of the Jets’ breakout stars of 2023, racking up a career-best 7.5 sacks en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance. He took a major leap in his second NFL season, flashing the first-round potential that made him a top-30 pick just a year prior.

Unfortunately, the 2024 season proved to be a very different story. Johnson suffered a torn Achilles in Week 2 of 2024, ending his year before it ever really got started. Now, he’s eyeing a return in 2025, and the Jets are counting on him to pick up where he left off before his injury.

Johnson is penciled in as the starter opposite Will McDonald on the edge, but the depth behind them remains troublesome. Micheal Clemons is coming off a poor season, rookie Tyler Baron is unproven, and the rest of the group — guys like Rashad Weaver, Braiden McGregor, and Eric Watts — is largely unknown.

The pressure is on Johnson to reclaim his pre-injury form, but that’s easier said than done. Achilles injuries can be especially brutal for edge rushers. Some, such as former Jets defensive end Carl Lawson, never fully return to form. The Jets are hoping that’s not the case here.

So far, the signs are promising. Johnson recently posted on social media that he was setting new personal records in explosion testing that were even stronger than his pre-injury numbers.

If the season started tomorrow, he insists he’d be ready. The Jets can only hope that remains true when Week 1 finally arrives.

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