Some coaches in Baltimore are hesitant to depend on their backups.
Lamar Jackson is anticipated to play this Sunday against the Jets, having returned to practice on Thursday after sitting out the previous day due to an ankle issue.
This will be the first time the Jets tackle Jackson since the 2022 season opener, where he tossed three touchdown passes. Jermaine Johnson, a rookie for the Jets, has an interesting anecdote to share from that game.
“He was my first career layoff,” Johnson mentioned, as he’s awaiting the arrival of his first child. “I’m hoping to play against him on Sunday and maybe score a touch more.”
Watching Jackson’s plays, it’s hard to believe anyone could catch one of the fastest quarterbacks in the league. However, this season has seen injuries slow him down, including missing three games due to a hamstring strain. He’s already been sacked 23 times in just seven games, which is equal to the total he faced over a full 17-game season last year.
“Wow,” Jackson remarked to reporters when he learned about the stat. “We definitely need to have a chat about that with our offense.”
Johnson has now become one of the Jets he thinks about often.
Having missed most of last season due to a torn Achilles tendon and sitting out three games this season with an ankle injury, Johnson is starting to resemble the edge rusher he was in 2023. That year he had 7.5 sacks and was selected as a Pro Bowl injury replacement. Recently, he’s tallied two sacks and 11 pressures over the past two games.
“He’s really starting to find his rhythm,” said defensive coordinator Steve Wilkes.
In another aspect, Jackson is looking to recover from a tough outing against Cleveland, where he tossed two interceptions and didn’t score any touchdowns while being sacked five times. This season, he’s faced pressure about 30 percent of the time, making him rank 31st in the NFL in that regard.
“To be effective, you need to stay active, keep moving, and maintain speed,” Johnson explained. “In that Cleveland game, I noticed Miles was relentless in his pursuit. It doesn’t always click in every game… but. Yeah, it ended up being a tough one.”
Johnson added that various defensive strategies keep players on their toes. “Some guys like to stay in front of him to contain him, but I feel I need to leverage my skills to pursue him actively. I’ve been doing some additional workouts and cutting down on sugary drinks,” he said.
Really?
“As the season progresses, I often find myself chasing down opponents, so shedding any extra weight is crucial. I want to have more hurries, hits, and conversions into sacks.”
His influence is evident in numerous ways.
Before the trade deadline, Johnson voiced his commitment to stay with the team, particularly as significant stars like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams were traded away.
In the locker room, his words are gaining importance.
“I reckon we’re starting to witness a shift. He’s stepped up during Quinnen’s absence, becoming more assertive—not just among the D-linemen, but across the entire defense,” Wilkes noted. “I appreciate his words.”
