Two of the New York Jets' most important players are “trending in the right direction” for Week 1. Coach Adam Gase told reporters on Monday that cornerback Trumaine Johnson and wide receiver Robby Anderson are both on track to play in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini.
Johnson, the Jets' No. 1 cornerback, has been sidelined since August 12 by a hamstring injury. Gase said shortly after the injury that Johnson was “week to week,” indicating it was likely he would miss the remainder of the preseason.
The seven-year veteran is entering his second season in New York after signing a mammoth five-year, $72.5 million contract as a free agent in March 2018. Injuries made it difficult for Johnson to live up to that contract, but he was productive when he was on the field, finishing with 40 tackles, four interceptions, and five passes defensed in 10 games played.
Anderson played in the Jets' first three preseason games as he worked to establish better rapport with sophomore quarterback Sam Darnold. He suffered a calf injury early last week, though, and was listed as day-to-day on the injury report. But Gase fueled concerns about his status despite the seemingly minor nature of his injury, alluding to the “unknown” associated with soft tissue injuries.
The three-year pro initially struggled to build on a promising sophomore campaign last season, catching just eight passes over the Jets’ first four games. He emerged as Darnold’s favorite target from that point on, though, ending 2018 with 50 catches for 752 yards and six touchdowns, all team-high numbers.
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