The New York Jets got their first win of the 2024 season and their first with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback by beating the Tennessee Titans 24-17 on Sunday. However, the win came at a great cost.
Jets’ Pro Bowl defensive end Jermaine Johnson was hurt in the third quarter of the game and has suffered a torn Achilles, according to head coach Robert Saleh.
“It’s unfortunately looking like that,” Saleh said after the game. “We’ll confirm it tomorrow, but it doesn’t look good.”
Johnson’s injury would be a tough blow to the Jets’ defense, which already showed signs of struggle this season. The team has limited options to replace the 2022 first-round pick, considering they have traded away veteran John Franklin-Myers in the offseason and let standout DE Bryce Huff walk in free agency.
One thing the Jets could do is circle back to star pass rusher Haason Reddick, who has been holding out while looking for a new contract. But according to reports, the chances of Reddick and the Jets working out a deal are getting slimmer by the day.
Still, the Jets likely feel good that they managed to get a win even against a rebuilding team like the Titans. While Rodgers didn’t put up big numbers, he played an efficient game and provided some big-time plays, something the Jets lacked last season.
Additionally, second-year Will McDonald IV finally showed some of his talents that made him the 15th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. McDonald finished the game with three sacks, equaling his total from last year.
