Trumaine Johnson, the Jets CB that has been inactive for the last 3 games, is expected back for the Jets week 9 matchup this Sunday against their division-rival Miami Dolphins. This is a huge game, and the Jets getting Johnson back would be a huge boost. With Johnson on the field in weeks 1-4, the Jets forced a total of 10 turnovers, but without him in the weeks 5-8 the Jets have only 5 forced turnovers, 4 of which being in a favorable matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. Although Johnson only had 2 of these 10 turnovers in the first 4 weeks, his overall impact on the defensive side of the field does not go unnoticed. I take you back to a week 7 matchup where the Jets lost to the Vikings 37-17.

Todd Bowles and Kacy Rodgers (the Jets head coach and defensive coordinator, respectively) opted to put their top corner on Stefon Diggs and their number 2 guy on Adam Thielen. Although Thielen has broken multiple receiving records and played like the best WR in football so far this year, this is a strategy a handful of teams have used this season against the Vikings. Let Thielen get his, and make sure Diggs doesn’t. But still, opposing teams obviously don’t want Thielen to kill them like he did to the Jets.

Now if Johnson played in this game, it could have been a different narrative. The Jets started the game with their interim top CB Mo Claiborne on Diggs, and Daryl Roberts on Thielen. It was clear that Roberts and Thielen were not in the same talent level at all. At points during the game, the team would switch Mo Claiborne onto Thielen to give him a different look and slow him down, which worked some of the time. If Johnson had played that game, he could’ve shadowed Stefon Diggs, and Claiborne being on Thielen the entire game would have been a huge boost to the defense and possibly changed the outcome of that game.

With that being said, the plan is to have Johnson back this Sunday against the Dolphins. He returned to practice last Thursday and there was a chance of him playing Sunday against the Bears. This week, barring no setbacks, he should practice all week and be good to go for this crucial matchup with the Dolphins. The Jets lost their week 2 matchup against the Dolphins, but both the Jets and Dolphins are different teams right now. The Dolphins passing game has taken a hit as of late, with Albert Wilson on IR, Kenny Stills questionable for the game on Sunday, and Tannehill already ruled out. If the Jets can have their secondary healthy against Brock Osweiler and the Dolphins banged up receiving core, the Jets could pick up a huge win with possible wild card implications. If the Jets want to make a playoff push, it starts with the defense helping out rookie QB Sam Darnold, and their 72-million-dollar-man ]Johnson is the key to putting all the pieces together.