Throughout the season, NewYorkJets.com will provide a Stock Report focusing on the Jets' upcoming matchup.
This week's report features players and/or themes that are trending before the Green & White take on the Pittsburgh Steelers at MetLife Stadium on Sunday at 1 p.m.
📈 Star Defender's Health
Jets edge Jermaine Johnson will return to action game Sunday against the Steelers while All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner, who is battling a leg injury, also expects to be in the defensive lineup.
Johnson, who missed 15 games last season with a torn Achilles tendon, was left off the team's first official injury report Wednesday. He has been ramping up in practice since he returned from the PUP list on Aug. 10.
"I'm mentally stronger, I'm emotionally stronger and I'm more confident than I've ever been," Johnson said.
Gardner was listed as a limited participant with a fibular injury after he battled a calf injury throughout the final two weeks of camp.
"Everything is good," Gardner said Tuesday. "I am focused on us and just ready to play."
📉 Cam Heyward's Availability
The Steelers expect DT Cameron Heyward in Week 1 although the captain and Pro Bowler has threatened to play if he does not get a new contract.
"I'm certainly expecting Cam to play," Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said this week. "My job is to get him in and out of Latrobe, and I've done my job. So there are no reservations about his participation or readiness. I'm sure he's champing at the bit."
After "holding in for" most of training camp, Heyward was recently asked if he is planning to play against the Green & White.
"We'll see," he said on the latest episode of the podcast "Not Just Football With Cam Heyward."
Later in the pod, when asked whether the two sides are close to resolving the contract dispute, he added, "nope, nothing to talk about."
The 36-year-old lineman is entering his 15th season in the NFL, all with Pittsburgh, and is coming off a first-time All-Pro selection last year and a 13th place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Heyward racked up 71 tackles, 8 eight sacks and 11 pass breakups for the Black & and Gold during the 2024 season.
📈 Super Sophomores
The Jets trio of second-year players – RBs Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, and T Olu Fashanu – expect to take on more responsibility when the season kicks off Sunday.
Allen, the Green & White's 21-year-old tailback, played in every game last season and rushed for 334 yards (3.6 YPC) and 3 TDs.
"I have a lot left to prove, not even to the outside world but still people in this locker room and people in this building and to myself," Allen said. "Last year, I kind of gotta flush it, forget about it, but that still drives me."
Davis, after totaling 4 carries over the first 3 months of the season, averaged 6 yards per carry (26 attempts) and added 2 TDs over the final 6 contests.
"We have like three good running backs, and I keep saying that," HC Aaron Glenn said. "Listen, they all have different skill sets that we're going to utilize."
Fashanu will start at LT in Week 1 after beginning his rookie year backing up veteran tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses. He started 10 games on offense and feels ready to bear a heavier load in 2025.
"I was really fortunate to have a lot of veteran guys in the room with me, last year," Fashanu said. "But this year, it's a whole new year, it is all about just picking up more for the team this year."
Glenn added: "Olu is committed to being here, and I'm not just talking about the times that he had to be here as far as the workouts, he was here on the weekends to get work in on his own. … He's going to be a huge part of what we're trying to build.
📈 Steelers New-Look Secondary
Over the offseason, the Steelers enhanced their secondary by adding two Pro Bowlers -- six-time Pro Bowl CB Darius Slay, signed from the Eagles, and trading for three-time All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey.
In the Ramsey deal, the Steelers sent three-time All-Pro S Minkah Fitzpatrick to Miami. That leaves the Pittsburgh defense with three new starters in its secondary ahead of Week 1 if you include S Juan Thornhill, who was signed from Cleveland in the spring and is projected to step in for Fitzpatrick.
"I'm comfortable with what I've seen out here," Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said. "A lot of talented guys."
