The Tennessee Titans face the New York Jets, but their opponent has been plagued by injuries.
The Jets announced that their standout defensive end Jermaine Johnson will miss the remainder of the game after being carted off the field with an Achilles tendon injury.
Johnson, 25, had two tackles (one for a loss) before leaving the Jets’ game in the third quarter against the Titans.
Johnson was selected by the Jets with the No. 26 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and New York had high hopes for the Florida State defensive end. He was the third first-round pick in a draft class that also included star cornerback Sauce Gardner with the No. 4 overall pick and wide receiver Garrett Wilson with the No. 10 overall pick.
During his short three-year career, Johnson lived up to that reputation as a first-round pick. Although he started slowly in his rookie season, playing 14 games as a backup and recording 29 tackles and 2.5 sacks, Johnson emerged as a stronger player in his second season.
In 2023, Johnson started every game for the Jets and recorded 7.5 sacks for New York. He also made a 37-yard pick-six for his first career touchdown in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns.
Even though Johnson won’t score a touchdown every week, losing his pass rushing ability is a bitter pill for the Jets to swallow, especially after losing Mosley earlier this year.
An Achilles injury is often a very delicate problem and could result in a lengthy period of time off for Johnson. He will undergo further tests in the coming days but for now will not return for the fourth quarter against the Titans.
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