Jets coach Adam Gase explained the reasoning behind Trumaine Johnson's benching for most of Monday's 23-3 loss to the Browns, saying "it just hasn't worked out as well as we need it to" with the cornerback.
"The good thing is we have a long ways to go,” Gase added.
Johnson was benched after struggling in Week 1 against the Bills. He was replaced by Nate Hairston in Week 2, though he played a few snaps when Hairston got banged up with 3:27 remaining.
“I thought the guys did a good job last week,” Gase said ( per newsday.com). “Our corners weren’t our problem last game.”
Johnson signed a five-year, $72.5 million contract with the Jets in 2018, but hasn't lived up to expectations. He missed five games last season because of a quad injury, and he was suspended one game for tardiness and missing meetings.
Gase, however, doesn't believe Johnson has earned the privilege to be a starter regardless of how much his contract is worth.
“That’s irrelevant to me,” he said. “I don’t care how much money you make."
Coach Gase speaks to the media before Wednesday's practice of Week 3. https://t.co/xjNGrlTrBZ
— New York Jets (@nyjets) September 18, 2019
Johnson admitted he could have played better against the Bills, but understood his role in Week 2 was to "support my teammates."
“There were some plays that I usually make,” Johnson said of his performance against the Bills (via the New York Daily News). “You live and learn. Come back and fix them. And make sure you don’t make them again…. I let (up) some plays in that first game that I usually make. I just came back and corrected them.”
Gase wouldn't say whether Johnson, an eight-year veteran, would start in Week 3, but he reiterated that Johnson will have to work hard in practice to earn his spot.
“I think you just go out and have a good week of practice,” Gase said. “That’s what we tell everybody. Every week is start over and we want everybody to practice the way that we need them to practice. Get ready for this game. Whatever the inactives are or however we do the depth chart, it starts over every week.”
Johnson's best season came in 2015 when he was playing for the Rams. He recorded seven interceptions and 17 passes defensed while working with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The Jets were hopeful Johnson would play well this season after reuniting with Williams.
The Jets (0-2) will travel to New England to face the Patriots (2-0) on Sunday, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET.