It's no secret the San Francisco 49ers have been forced to deal with an absurd amount of injuries throughout this 2025 NFL campaign, one of the biggest being the season-ending ACL tear suffered by five-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Obviously, losing a player of Bosa's caliber was going to weaken the Niners' pass-rushing attack. But in addition to the loss of the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has been without the services of Yetur Gross-Matos for several games, and in Sunday's 26-15 loss to the Houston Texans, he was also without the team's sack leader, Bryce Huff, who is expected to miss several weeks due a hamstring injury suffered in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons.
To make matters even worse, both Sam Okuayinonu and Jordan Elliott left Sunday's loss with ankle injuries, and Alfred Collins was lost for a time with a shoulder injury. With those issues and Mykel Williams, Trevis Gipson, and Robert Beal Jr. unable to generate any kind of pressure, the Niners as a whole recorded just two total quarterback hits and zero sacks on Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who completed 76.9 percent of his passes for a season-high 318 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.
The 49ers are tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the second-fewest sacks in the league this season, with nine; the only team with fewer is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who sit in last place with eight. It should be noted that both Baltimore and Jacksonville have played one fewer game than San Francisco.
The Niners clearly need help in the pass-rush department, and Saleh might be wise to suggest to general manager John Lynch that he make a phone call to his old team, the New York Jets, to inquire about Jermaine Johnson II.
Robert Saleh reuniting with Jermaine Johnson II could undoubtedly help 49ers' pass rush
Now, could there be some better options out there? Sure. The Miami Dolphins' Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb could be available, as could the New York Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux or the New Orleans Saints' Carl Granderson. Even Johnson's Jets teammate, tackle Quinnen Williams, could end up with another team ahead of next Tuesday's deadline, although it seems like the Niners would have to give up more in return to acquire him.
Saleh obviously knows Johnson well, as he clearly had a hand in the Jets selecting the 2021 ACC Defensive Player of the Year with the 26th overall pick in the 2022 draft. After a solid rookie campaign, the Florida State alum earned a Pro Bowl selection in 2023, racking up 55 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 16 QB hits, 7.5 sacks, a forced fumble, seven passes defended, and an interception.
Unfortunately, he appeared in just two games a season ago before suffering a torn Achilles and did miss three games earlier this year with an ankle injury. So, the Niners could certainly be scared off, as they certainly don't need any more injury issues.
That said, though, Johnson is undoubtedly a better option on the line than basically every healthy pass-rusher San Francisco has right now. In his five appearances thus far, Johnson has recorded 14 total QB pressures, which would currently rank third among all 49ers defenders, trailing only Huff (24) and Williams (16). Again, that's in five games, where Huff has played seven and Williams all eight. And while Johnson has just one sack, that would still put him in a tie for third.
The 49ers would likely have to convince the Jets to take on some of Johnson's salary between this season and next, as New York did exercise his fifth-year option for the 2026 campaign, which makes his cap hit $13.411 million.
But taking him on might just be worth it if he can come in and be the player he was under Saleh's leadership.