Jets’ Jermaine Johnson provides promising injury update

NEW ORLEANS — Jermaine Johnson is ready to go.

The Jets defensive end said he will be back on the field when OTAs start this spring after tearing his right Achilles tendon in Week 2 of last season.

“I’ll be ready to go by OTAs,” Johnson said here during a promotional appearance for Bounty towels. “I spoke to the doc on Saturday and he said everything looks perfect. He said that thing ain’t re-tearing. Everything is looking good. The explosion is coming back. I’m excited.”

Johnson, 26, went down last season against the Titans as he was chasing quarterback Will Levis. Johnson said he knew immediately the injury was bad and he was not sure he’d be strong enough to deal with a season-ending injury.

“When I was on the field and I was down, I just started bawling because I wasn’t going to be able to be there for my guys,” Johnson said. “I was like, ‘Damn, I can’t step up for them. I’ve just got to watch from the sidelines.’ When we were going back to the locker room to do the tests, I kept saying, ‘Please God. I’m not strong enough to deal with an Achilles.’ I’m thinking about months and months and months of the same thing. But I can do this. I’m much stronger than I thought I was.”

Johnson was coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2023 and was expected to be a big piece of the Jets defense. His injury was a big blow to the group, which took a step back in 2024. Johnson called the injury “the worst thing ever,” but said he is grateful that he found out he was stronger than he thought.

New Jets coach Aaron Glenn has already reached out to Johnson and he said he has been impressed by his new coach.

“I’m excited,” Johnson said. “He seems like a great leader of men, a great football mind. He’s done it at a high level and he’s done it in New York. That’s a hell of a guy to follow for this position.”