The Tennessee Titans' season kicks off Sunday against the New York Jets, and the NFL couldn't have scripted a more dramatic opening. Not only is new head coach Robert Saleh going toe to toe with his former squad, but a handful of Titans will be playing against their former teammates as well.
One of the more notable players is former New York Jet, Jermaine Johnson II. The Titans traded away T'Vondre Sweat for Johnson right after Saleh was hired. Since then, he's been one of the more anticipated players to watch on this defense, but he's also entering the season with pressure on his shoulders.
Johnson is entering a contract year, and if he wants to continue his career in Tennessee, he has to play better off the edge. His best season came his sophomore season in 2023, when he logged 7.5 sacks. The following season, he unfortunately tore his Achilles tendon, and he followed that up with a disappointing 2025 campaign. A career high of 7.5 sacks isn't overly exciting, but fans should believe that Saleh traded for him with a plan in place.
Tennessee Titans EDGE Jermaine Johnson II enters a critical contract season with his future on the line
The NFL has a lengthy history of devastating Achilles injuries, and history says that the outlook isn't optimistic for Johnson, but not all hope is lost.
A sports medicine study was recently conducted across 62 NFL players who ruptured their Achilles from 2008-2022. The study essentially states that NFL players returning from an Achilles tear have generally taken a step down compared to their previous level of play. However, the data also suggests that players significantly improve from Year 1 to Year 2 post-injury.
Basically, Johnson should be well away from his injury by now to provide hope that a bounce-back season is possible, but not guaranteed. If Johnson cannot perform at a high level, it may not be entirely due to his Achilles, and the Titans may choose to look elsewhere at the position come next season.
If the Titans deliver another disappointing season, Johnson not playing to Saleh's standard from the Wide 9 spot could be a reason why they struggle. Unfortunately for Johnson, the upcoming 2027 draft class currently has some star EDGE players, which could lead to Johnson being a one-and-done in Tennessee.
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