Trumaine Johnson’s two picks mean more than redemption
ORCHARD PARK — Jets cornerback Trumaine Johnson sat at his locker a week ago in despair after committing a costly penalty in their loss to the Titans. On Sunday, he wore a smile on his face after pulling down two interceptions to help the Jets to a 27-23 win over the Bills.
“I’m just happy we finished,” Johnson said. “It’s not about me. I just made some plays. I’m glad we came out here in all phases and did a good job and got a W. I know our record isn’t what we wanted but a win is always good.”
Johnson committed a facemask penalty on the Titans’ game-winning drive last week that gave them 15 yards and helped them move down the field.
That led to plenty of criticism of Johnson, who signed a five-year, $72.5 million contract with the Jets in the offseason. He got Josh Allen twice on Sunday for his third and fourth interceptions of the season. The second interception sealed the game in the fourth quarter.
Johnson said he has been unfazed by the criticism that has been thrown his way. He has been viewed as a bad signing after missing five games to a groin injury and giving up big plays to the Jaguars and the Bills in the Jets’ first meeting with them.
“I don’t pay no mind to it,” Johnson said. “I’ve never paid no mind to it in St. Louis, in LA, now in New York. It is what it is. They love you, they hate you and they love you again. Keep that same energy.”
The first interception came in the second quarter when Allen made a bad decision to throw the ball up as Jets linebacker Brandon Copeland was chasing him.
“It was a great pressure,” Johnson said. “I don’t know who it was but I saw him going to the sideline. I felt like somebody was on his leg and he threw the ball up. It’s up for grabs. We preach turnovers. I’m glad we got three today.”
For Johnson and the Jets defense, this was some redemption for what the Bills did to them last month in a 41-10 win at MetLife Stadium.
“We all knew what they did to us in New York,” Johnson said. “It was good to come out with a W.”
