Only two days into training camp, third-year pass rusher Jermaine Johnson has been going up against his two-time All-Pro teammate, LT Tyron Smith, in practice. It's a challenge, a welcome challenge, and an opportunity to keep getting better.

"It's invaluable," Johnson said. "I think he is the best pass protector in the NFL. So, going up against that every single day, you can't help but learn from it. On top of that, he'll talk after the play and after practice about yin and yang, what I can do better, what he sees and vice versa. So, it's just invaluable to be able to go up against each other every single day."

Johnson had his best season last year with 7.5 sacks, 11 TFL, 13 QB hits, a fumble recovery and an interception that he turned into into a defensive touchdown. After concluding the 2023 season with Pro Bowl honors, Johnson returns this season ready to match and surpass his previous success.

"Just being able to do everything and anything this team needs me to do," Johnson said. "Block punts, line up at three, line up at the end, put tight ends in the dirt, put tackles in the dirt. Just be able to do everything with speed and power. I don't want there to be a job on this defense that I cannot do."

HC Robert Saleh has recognized Johnson's effort and the way he leads by example.

"For all these guys it's just continued focus on being their best every single day," Saleh said. "Jermaine kind of embodies that. Every day he is trying to PR and that's all you can ask for. The results are going to be what they are, but your process and how you approach every day is completely contingent on you and it's a controllable aspect."

The Jets defense will look a bit different this season, minus Quinton Jefferson, Bryce Huff, and John Franklin-Meyers, who accounted for a combined 19.5 sacks last year. While Johnson's sack number7.5 sacks last season were a career high, he knows he has to do even more this year.

"Yeah, definitely," Johnson said about needing to pick up that production. "That's the goal to get a lot of sacks for every D-line, for every edge rusher. It's no question in my mind that whoever's out on that field will do just that."

The Jets' defense has a high standard after ranking as a top-five defense for consecutive years . For Johnson, part of running it back and elevating the defense even more starts with going against the best every day in practice.

"The expectation every year is to allow zero points every single game," Johnson said. "That's our goal, that's my goal, allow zero points every game and no yards any play. That's every team's goal, every defense's goal, but we don't take that lightly and we definitely apply that to practice. We're our biggest critic, we have an insane standard for each other both on and off the field. I'm just excited, like I always say, to take this new car out for a spin."