Shakamak's Jalen Johnson talks comeback from injury
Johnson suffered a compound fracture in his left leg playing basketball for Shakamak in the 2024 First Financial Classic.
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New York Post
4 hours ago
- New York Post
Fully healthy Jets pass rush leaves Aaron Glenn speechless
Take flight with the Jets Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off. tRY IT NOW The Jets pass rush left coach Aaron Glenn searching for words on Tuesday. 'Whoa,' Glenn said. 'That's all I can say is, 'Whoa.' ' Advertisement Jermaine Johnson returned to team drills for the first time this summer. Johnson started off training camp on the physically unable to perform list as he returned from Achilles surgery last year. Johnson was back on Tuesday and he was in the backfield frequently. '[Johnson] is out there and he's rushing the passer and he runs right by me and it was just like wind, like, 'Whoosh,' ' Glenn said. 'Just goes by me and then you see [Quinnen Williams]. It felt good. I'll just say that. It felt really good.' The Jets defensive line has not been whole during camp with Johnson only coming off PUP last week. Williams has missed time with a calf injury and Will McDonald has dealt with back tightness and a knee injury. Advertisement Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson speaks to the media after a practice. Bill Kostroun/New York Post Glenn is dreaming of what McDonald and Johnson — two first-round picks — can do off the edge. 'I think we see Will has a fastball that is like elite in this league,' Glenn said. 'Jermaine is a bigger body — 265, 270 pounds — that's a true power player but he does have speed also. To me, a lot of times when you have that dynamic, you can have one guy from one side rush with power, when he's running right through the tackle, now the quarterback has to have an escape lane and you have a guy who has speed that can come from the backside and make a play. … That makes a hell of a rush. … I'm looking forward to seeing those guys work together.' Advertisement Jets coach Aaron Glenn speaks to the media after practice. Bill Kostroun/New York Post Glenn said a 'good amount' of starters won't play in the preseason finale Friday against the Eagles. The Jets have played starters in each of the first two games. Glenn would not say specifically who won't play, but it feels like a safe bet that quarterback Justin Fields won't play. Advertisement 'It gives us a chance to look at some of our other young guys and give them plenty of playing time so we can evaluate them,' Glenn said. 'It's getting down to nut-cutting time as far as who's going to make the 53.' Glenn had a funny line when talking about the team's running backs on Tuesday to avoid any trade talk about Breece Hall. 'We have three good running backs,' Glenn said. 'I keep saying that. They all have different skill sets that we're going to utilize. That does not mean that I'm trading Breece. OK? It does not. I'm going to say that right now. I just like having three good guys. Hell, I wish I had more.'
NBC Sports
4 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Bears will play their starters in the final preseason game
The Bears will play their starters in the preseason finale Friday night against the Chiefs. Bears coach Ben Johnson told Kay Adams on Up & Adams that Caleb Williams and the rest of the team's healthy starters will play. 'We'll go ahead, and we'll play,' Johnson said. 'We'll see how long it is. We're going to get through a couple days here of practice, and we'll determine for how long, but we need to go through this.' Johnson hinted earlier this week that he would play the starters this week. Chiefs coach Andy Reid announced Monday that his starters would play some against the Bears. 'They'll start it off, for sure, and then we'll see how it goes from there,' Reid said. The Bears opened Sunday night's game against the Bills with their starters on the field. Williams and receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore each played 14 snaps. Williams was 6-of-10 for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jets coach can't contain enthusiasm after Jermaine Johnson, Quinnen Williams return from injury: ‘Woah!'
It's safe to say that Aaron Glenn was stoked about Jermaine Johnson and Quinnen Williams returning to New York Jets practice on Tuesday. The Jets coach couldn't contain his enthusiasm when asked what it's like to have the two studs back on the defensive line. 'All I can say is, 'Woah!'' Glenn exclaimed excitedly, with his eyes wide, eyebrows arched, and a grin creeping across his face. 'Eleven [Johnson] is out there, and he's rushing the passer, and he runs right by me, and it's like just wind, 'Woosh!' goes right by me. And then you see 95 [Williams]. It felt good. I'll just say that. It felt really good.' It was Johnson's first contact since he sustained a ruptured Achilles in Week 2 last season against the Tennessee Titans. The 26-year-old was activated off the PUP list last week but didn't take part in team drills until Tuesday. He was flying off the edge against the Jets offense, and would've likely had two sacks if the quarterback was allowed to be hit. Johnson was one of three first-round picks by the Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft, behind corner Sauce Gardner and wide receiver Garrett Wilson. He broke out in 2023 after a quiet rookie season. Johnson started all 17 games, recorded 7.5 sacks and 55 tackles, and had a 37-yard pick six. He was selected to the Pro Bowl at the end of that season. A powerful athlete, Johnson will complement 2023 first-round pick Will McDonald IV in an explosive 1-2 punch coming off the edge this season. McDonald had his own breakout season a year ago, when he took on a bigger role in Johnson's absence and led the Jets with 10.5 sacks. Glenn, in his first season as Jets coach, is amped about seeing Johnson and McDonald finally on the field together. 'Will has a fastball that's elite in this league. Jermaine is a bigger body that's a true power player, but he does have speed also, & when you have that dynamic, you can have one guy from one side rush with power, & when he's running right through the tackle, now the quarterback has to have an escape lane, you have a guy that has speed that can come from the backside & make a play,' Glenn explained. 'You see that from a lot of teams that have that dynamic. You have one guy with power & the other guy with speed, that makes a hell of a rush.' Related: Quinnen Williams also returns, Sauce Gardner avoids injury scare for Jets Williams returned after missing the first two preseason games with a calf injury. The three-time Pro Bowl lineman, who was First Team All-Pro at DT in 2022, helps complete a dynamic three-fourths on the defensive front with Johnson and McDonald. Williams has 39 sacks in six NFL seasons, including six last year and a career-high 12 in 2022. It was exciting to see those three all play together for the first time in more than a year, but don't expect to see that happen when the Jets host the Philadelphia Eagles in their preseason finale Friday at MetLife Stadium. Though Glenn was coy about who's in and who's out of the lineup against the Eagles, he did say, 'Some starters won't play in this game. I won't get into the who's or whatnot but a good amount of starters won't play.' It's difficult to imagine Johnson or Williams suiting up coming off injury and just weeks away from the regular season opener Sept. 7 against the Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. It'd make no sense for the Jets to take such a risk with such important players. Speaking of important players and injury, Gardner also returned to practice Tuesday. He missed the 31-12 preseason loss to the New York Giants on Saturday because of a calf issue. But he was a full participant Tuesday, though there was a mild scare. Gardner was limping after a pass in the end zone and it appeared that perhaps he reaggravated the calf injury. But Glenn quelled those fears. 'I think he just got kicked in the leg. I think he's fine.' That helped put a bow on a happy day for the Jets head coach. Related Headlines MLB Power Rankings: Brewers Continue Stranglehold as Phillies Lose Ace to Blood Clot Report: Full 2026 NASCAR Schedule Released Early, Significant Changes for Next Season Dolphins Have Glaring Roster Weakness Heading Into Week 1
