Aaron Rodgers and Jets’ offense show promise while defense has to deal with loss of Jermaine Johnson

Aaron Rodgers pumped his right fist as he walked off the field with a victory in Tennessee, knowing he and the New York Jets just pulled one out.

Sure, it was a close one. But the quarterback knows they got a win even with plenty to improve.

“We’re not quite there yet, but good teams can close out games in tough environments,” Rodgers said after the 24-17 victory Sunday. “We will be really thankful for this one down the road.”

And now they have a major injury to overcome as they prepare for their third game in 11 days to start the season.

Edge rusher Jermaine Johnson confirmed Monday in a social media post he tore his right Achilles tendon.

The 25-year-old Johnson posted a 22-second video on X and Instagram saying an MRI showed what he and the Jets (1-1) feared when he was carted off the field in the third quarter.

“We’re in great spirits,” Johnson said. “We’re going to get back right and this is just another opportunity to brag about what I came from, so let’s get it.”

The loss of Johnson further amplifies the need for the Jets and holdout Haason Reddick to come to a resolution on his contract situation. Reddick, acquired from Philadelphia in March, has stayed away from the team since April 1 while he seeks an extension.

The defense has not been the top-tier unit it expects to be after giving up 401 total yards in the season-opening loss at San Francisco and then 300 at Tennessee.

There was some improvement in the run defense, though. After allowing 49ers backup Jordan Mason to rush for a career-high 147 yards, the Jets held Tony Pollard to 62 yards on 17 carries. Tennessee ran for 130 yards total, but 38 came on scrambles from quarterback Will Levis, who was sacked four times.

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“Overall, I thought it was much improved in the run game, especially with that scheme that we were playing against,” coach Robert Saleh said Monday. “It’s a well-designed scheme and a scheme that’s hurt us in the past. ... But there’s things we’ve got to get better at.”

The same could be said for the offense, which was more efficient than in the opener but still wasn’t the dangerous unit that was expected coming out of training camp.

But Rodgers gave a glimpse of why he’s so valuable when he went 5 for 5 passing on the winning drive and calmly led the Jets downfield before rookie Braelon Allen’s 20-yard run with less than four minutes left put New York ahead for good.

“It’s back-to-back games with three touchdowns (for the offense), which hasn’t happened here in a long time,” said Saleh, referring to a feat the Jets hadn’t accomplished since 2021.

“And we’re still looking at it like, man, we’ve got so much more in the tank,” Saleh added. “And all that’s going to come.”

What’s working

Allen and Breece Hall nicknamed themselves “The Killer B’s” during training camp and showed why in Tennessee. Hall rolled up 114 total yards — 62 rushing, 52 receiving — and a touchdown, while Allen ran for 33 yards and a TD and also caught a scoring pass while becoming the youngest to score a TD from scrimmage in the NFL since 1930.

Hall and Allen were the Jets’ first running back duo with TD catches in a game since Johnny Johnson and Richie Anderson in Week 3 at Miami in 1994.

What needs help

The Jets and Reddick. Both need each other right now: the team for his pass-rushing abilities; Reddick to get back on the field and end the rising cost of his absence, which has totaled about $7 million in fines and game checks.

Stock up

DE Will McDonald. His career-high three sacks — including one on the Titans’ final drive — were promising, especially with Johnson now sidelined. But the 2023 first-rounder needs to show consistently that he can be a force off the edge.

“If he can harness whatever (he) felt on that last sack, it’s going to lead to a lot more for him,” Saleh said.

Stock down

CB Sauce Gardner. OK, his stock isn’t necessarily “down,” but Gardner is arguably the NFL’s top cornerback and when he has a subpar game, it gets attention. That was the case against the Titans, against whom Pro Football Focus said Gardner allowed five receptions on six targets for a career-high 97 yards, including a terrific 40-yard touchdown catch by Calvin Ridley.

Injuries

Other than the loss of Johnson, Saleh said the Jets are “hoping” they get LB C.J. Mosley (big toe) back for Thursday night. Same for CB D.J. Reed (knee), who sat out Sunday, and CB Michael Carter II (ankle), who aggravated his injury during the game. Saleh said it’s something Carter likely will have to deal with all season.

Key number

17 — The number of points the Jets scored off turnovers at Tennessee, although Saleh said they should’ve had more. A blocked punt by Irvin Charles that put the ball at the Titans 30 resulted in only a field goal in the third quarter.

Another quick turnaround for the Jets, who’ll play their home opener Thursday night and try to beat the Patriots at MetLife Stadium for the first time since 2015.

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