NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — New York Jets coach Robert Saleh says it appears pass rusher Jermaine Johnson tore his right Achilles tendon with tests coming Monday.
“It doesn’t look good,” Saleh said after New York’s 24-17 victory Sunday over the Tennessee Titans.
Now the Jets have to decide if Will McDonald IV’s three-sack performance along with a forced fumble gives them enough confidence to stand firm in its negotiations with Haason Reddick.
The Jets finished with four sacks, but Johnson had to be carted off the field late in the third quarter.
Saleh called the defensive line the heartbeat of the Jets (1-1).
“We go as they go, and they just kept fighting,” Saleh said. “Will McDonald was unbelievable. And credit to that quarterback (Will Levis). He got out of some stuff that was — I thought he was dead for rights. Again, we fought, kept swinging.”
Reddick, who has 58 career sacks over seven NFL seasons, has been locked in a contract holdout with the Jets and sat out during the offseason and training camp. He’s the lone NFL player still holding out and is looking at about $8 million lost in fines and game checks combined with missed bonuses.
The edge rusher, who turns 30 on Sept. 22, asked to be traded Aug. 12. General manager Joe Douglas nixed that then, saying New York would not grant his wish to be dealt.
Johnson was a first-round pick in 2022 at No. 26 overall out of Florida State, and he had 10 sacks combined over his first two seasons.
