Jets' Jermaine Johnson set to return on Sunday to a defense taking accountability for its poor play

New York Jets linebacker Jermaine Johnson II stretches at practice at The Grove in Watford, England, on Friday. Credit: AP/Kin Cheung
HERTFORDSHIRE, England — Jermaine Johnson had a difficult time watching the Jets lose the past three games and seeing the defense get beaten repeatedly.
Johnson doesn’t have to be a spectator anymore. The edge rusher will be back Sunday and hopes to give the Jets’ struggling defense a lift when they play the Broncos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“I just want to go help,” Johnson said after practice Friday. “I just want to go help. I want to contribute.”
Johnson suffered an ankle injury in the Jets’ Week 2 loss to Buffalo. He missed the final 15 games last season after tearing his right Achilles tendon.
Aaron Glenn said Johnson didn’t hurt the same foot. Johnson wouldn’t say which ankle he injured. He said he tweaked it and they wanted to make sure “it wasn’t tied” to anything else.
“You want to make sure everything’s done the right way because Achilles injury, definitely came back real fast, and then playing a lot,” Johnson said. “Just want to make sure everything’s good, make sure you don’t want to mess it up anywhere, and that’s what we’re doing.”
Getting Johnson back won’t solve all of the defensive issues, which are numerous. They led to a defensive players-only meeting back home before the Jets traveled to London.
Johnson said they had open and honest conversations in which players took “full accountability.” On Thursday, Quinnen Williams said the defense “is the reason why we’re 0-and-5.”
The Jets have given up the second-most points in the NFL. They allowed 37 points and four plays of at least 40 yards against Dallas last week.
“Everybody was on the same page,” Johnson said. “Like we have to be better. We can’t be the reason we lose. That can’t happen. We have too much talent. Coach AG has had our back in terms of how we run this thing, instilling a certain culture in here, and we got to have his back by putting a good product out there. That’s our job.”
Johnson said everyone was “very receptive” and responded well to the “very truthful and honest” meeting.
“Definitely being thumb-pointers before finger-pointers,” Johnson said. “We’re all looking how we can get better inward and definitely stepped with the right foot forward this week.”
Johnson, who is eligible for a contract extension, is looking to have a bounce-back year after last season. He still has time.
The Jets are a little more dynamic and versatile when Johnson is lining up on one edge and Will McDonald on the other. Teams have focused on McDonald and doubled Williams. It’s harder for them to do that with Johnson playing instead of Micheal Clemons.
“Being able to get a good quality player that we know is going to help us, it’s always good to get that player back,” Glenn said. “He does bring an edge to him. He’s another guy that can get off the quarterback. So any time we can bring that type of attitude, any time we can bring that level player on our team back from injuries, it’s always good.”
Johnson might help the Jets generate more of a pass rush. They have only two sacks in the past three games. Williams and McDonald haven’t had any since Week 1.
“I’m just excited to be back,” Johnson said, “and help out with how I can and definitely put some stuff on tape that we haven’t in the past couple weeks.”
Hall happy
Running back Breece Hall, whose name continues to come up in trade rumors, said he doesn’t want to go anywhere.
“I want to be here,” Hall said. “I love being a New York Jet and everything, but at the end of the day, I don’t control what goes on.”
Two-minute drill
Cornerback Brandon Stephens popped up on the injury report with a neck issue. He was limited in practice Friday and is questionable for Sunday’s game . . . Kick returner Kene Nwangwu, sidelined the last four weeks with a hamstring injury, will return against Denver.
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