Jets' Jermaine Johnson on facing former teammate Aaron Rodgers: 'I don't care who's back there'

Antwan Staley, New York Daily News on Sep 4, 2025

Published in Football

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It’s been a difficult 12 months for Jermaine Johnson.

He missed the Jets’ final 15 games after tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 2 last season and has been rehabbing to return ever since.

Sunday will be Johnson’s first time in action since his injury, and he will be facing former Jets teammate Aaron Rodgers, who was released in March. When asked what it would be like facing Rodgers, Johnson downplayed the matchup.

“I don’t care who’s back there,” he said. “I gotta a job to do for this team.

“Whoever the quarterback is, I get paid to put him down, so whoever is back there don’t matter.

Not only did Johnson and Rodgers connect because they were teammates for two seasons, but also because of their separate Achilles injuries. Rodgers suffered the injury first in 2023, four plays into his Jets debut following his trade from the Packers.

Johnson, 26, ruptured his right Achilles a year later, and Rodgers helped him through the process. He used the same doctor in Los Angeles, Dr. Neal ElAttrache, as Rodgers did, and flew to California on a private jet that Rodgers himself arranged. In addition, Johnson said Rodgers paid for the travel costs to fly out to the West Coast.

“I’m not going to sit here and be naive,” Johnson said. “The initial thing was like ‘Wow, you can’t even write that. But honestly, I have a job to do for this team.

“Obviously, I’m going to joke around after the game because one of the first things I said to Aaron when he got here was, ‘I’m happy you’re here, I’m just mad I will never be able to sack you. But, I’m excited.”

When Johnson suffered his Achilles injury, he was an ascending player. He registered 7.5 sacks in 2023 and was a Pro Bowl injury replacement. Now, he looks to return and even exceed that same level.

In recent years, the Jets have had one of the better defenses in the NFL. During the last three seasons, the Jets finished in the top five in yards allowed.

However, those numbers last year were a bit misleading. During the final 12 games, the Jets allowed 26.6 points per game and were 18th in yards allowed.

The Jets believe that with the return of Johnson and the addition of defensive tackle Harrison Phillips, they can get back to their defensive standard.

“You can see the difference,” Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said about Johnson. When Jermaine came back, you got Will McDonald IV on the other side, you got Clem [Micheal Clemons], you got Harrison [Phillips], and you got Quinnen (Williams) in the middle. It was different.

“The tape seemed like I was hitting fast speed because of the intensity and how they were coming off the ball. So, it’s great to have him back out there. He’s doing a great job and really just fitting right back in.

“You don’t really see anything in regards to fatigue, and that was my concern, not really trying to get him a lot of reps to get going.”

The Jets eased Johnson back into the fold after he was cleared to come off the physically unable to perform list in August. He finally began practicing during the final week of training camp, but Johnson did not play during the preseason.

“I’m excited, but not surprised, I like to say that,” Johnson said. “I know the man God has formed me into and this was another thing he wanted to put me through to let me hit the next level.

“I’m doing everything I used to do. I feel better than I did. I’m still explosive and everything is there. Now, I’m mentally stronger, I’m emotionally stronger, I’m more confident.

“I’ve never been seriously injured. But now that I have, it is like, ‘Ok, I can do that.’ God willing, nothing happens again. I just used to see guys get injured like that, and I’m like, ‘Oof, thank God that’s not me. But it was me and I be dammed if I wasn’t going to be strong enough to come back.”

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