Jets don’t have a choice with Haason Reddick after Jermaine Johnson injury

Johnson’s injury will likely require surgery, leaving the Jets thin at outside linebacker

The New York Jets have a big hole to fill at outside linebacker after Jermaine Johnson suffered a torn meniscus in his knee that will likely require surgery, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Jets were already counting on Johnson to be a major contributor this season after they traded up to select him with the 26th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Johnson had a strong rookie season, finishing with 7.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. With Johnson out, the Jets will likely turn to Haason Reddick to fill his spot. Reddick signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Jets this offseason after spending the past two seasons with the Carolina Panthers. Reddick is a versatile pass rusher who can line up at outside linebacker or defensive end. He has 23.5 sacks in the past two seasons, including 11 sacks in 2022. The Jets hope that Reddick can fill the void left by Johnson’s injury. Reddick is a talented pass rusher, but he is not as good of an all-around player as Johnson. Johnson is a better run defender and has more experience dropping into coverage. The Jets will likely need to add another outside linebacker before the start of the season. They could sign a veteran free agent or trade for a player.

Here is a list of potential free agent outside linebackers the Jets could target:

* Anthony Barr * Kwon Alexander * Blake Martinez * Deone Bucannon * Avery Williamson The Jets could also trade for a player like Haason Reddick. However, Reddick is under contract with the Panthers for two more years, so it would likely cost the Jets a significant amount of draft capital to acquire him. The Jets are hoping that Johnson’s injury is not too serious and that he will be able to return to the field soon. However, if Johnson is out for an extended period of time, the Jets will need to find a way to replace his production.