Things are not going swimmingly for the New York Jets during the early stages of the 2019 season.
Fresh off blowing a 16-0 lead in their season opener, the Jets lost quarterback Sam Darnold to a multi-week injury to mononucleosis.
New York was also without star defenders Quinnen Williams and C.J. Mosley for Monday night’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
Interestingly enough, the team also decided to bench starting cornerback Trumaine Johnson for at least the early stages of the game.
This really is something else. Johnson, 29, signed a five-year, $72.5 million deal with New York prior to last season. At that time, it was the richest contract for a cornerback in NFL history.
After appearing in just 11 games with the team, Johnson is on the bench holding his helmet as lesser-known “talent” in the Jets’ secondary take on Baker Mayfield and Co.
This all comes with the former Rams cornerback counting $60.5 million against the cap over the next four seasons. New York doesn’t even have a viable out on his contract until following the 2020 season.
None of this was lost on the football world as Johnson was seen playing the part of a spectator.
Money well spent, New York!