The Jets pass rush left coach Aaron Glenn searching for words on Tuesday.
“Whoa,” Glenn said. “That’s all I can say is, ‘Whoa.’ ”
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.
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.”
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.
“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.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
