When in need of a defensive spark, look no further than Jarvis Brownlee Jr. and Jermaine Johnson.
The second-year cornerback and fourth-year edge made big plays in critical moments Sunday as the Jets put together a strong defensive performance -- and they just so happen to be former college teammates.
Brownlee Jr., playing in just his second game with the Green & White, forced a fumble on Denver's first offensive possession. But just seconds before he helped solidify the Jets' first takeaway of the 2025 season, his former Florida State teammate, Johnson, nearly took down QB Bo Nix for a third-down sack.
"It all works in pieces," Brownlee said of the play. "Coverage works with the D-line, and them rushing works with us covering. I wish he did get that sack, but I did get the turnover on that drive. So, kudos to both of us."
Johnson eventually got his sack -- late in the fourth quarter for a critical third-down stop. After missing three consecutive games with an ankle injury, Johnson appeared to not skip a beat in his return. For Brownlee, it was a testament to the work ethic and competitive mindset of a player he has looked up to since his college days.
"His mentality is pure," he said. "There's nothing like it. He plays with an edge, he has a dawg mentality and I love it. He's been that way since the first day I met him at Florida State. And it's going to continue being that way."
Brownlee and Johnson played at Florida State for just one season together, in 2021, but it was long enough for Johnson to make a lasting impact on the young cornerback. Brownlee said Johnson has been pushing him since college, and he stressed that the teammates approach their game a similar way.
"I think we play with an edge, I think we both play with a chip on our shoulder," Brownlee said. "And I think we both just have got that dawg mentality that the man that's in front of us, we won't let them beat us. I think as a defensive player, everybody should have that mentality. It's just something about the game. When you love the game, you play the game a different way."
Brownlee's mindset has quickly earned the respect of HC Aaron Glenn, who said Wednesday that the CB "fits exactly who we are as a defense."
"He's tough-minded," Glenn said. "He has really good coverage ability. He doesn't mind sticking his nose in there when it comes to the run game. He had a really good game for us, so now we are trying to see -- how does he improve? And how does he continue to catch on to our defense? Then being able to put him in different situations to see if we can take advantage of who he is."
The Jets are set to face a Carolina Panthers team that has been productive on the ground over the past two weeks. The team rushed for 239 yards in Week 5 and 216 yards in Week 6 during home wins over the Dolphins and Cowboys, respectively. For Brownlee, this week presents another opportunity to showcase who he is as a competitor.
"I'm definitely going to take pride in stopping the run this week," Brownlee said. "That's the one thing that we've got to do -- we have to stop the run. They're big on that, that's what they pride on. They're going to come in here thinking that they can run the ball all over us. So, we've got to put our foot down as a defense and come and play grown-man football."
When it comes to how he can best contribute, Brownlee's plan is simple.
"Be No. 29," he said. "I think that's what you got out of me Sunday. And I think that's what you're going to get from me the rest of the year."
