Johnson: Corners not weak

Trumaine Johnson was asked Friday about the belief that the Jets’ cornerbacks group is a weakness.

“That’s my first time hearing it,” Johnson said. “I don’t consider myself or my group weak. We’re playmakers out there on the field, and we’re going to make a lot of plays this year.”

It is no secret the Jets are thin at the position. Besides Johnson, they do not have much experience at cornerback. The Jets are going to need inexperienced corners to make strides, and they need Johnson to play up to the reputation that got him a fiveyear, $72.5 million contract in 2018. His first season with the Jets was a disappointment in light of what the franchise paid for him.

New coach Adam Gase said they hope to get Johnson back to the player he was with the Rams a few years ago.

“Our goal is to get him back to that level when he was in L.A. or St. Louis, and we would go out there and be scared to throw to his side,” Gase said. “He has a good look right now. He’s focused, and he wants to have a good year.”

Johnson said he embraces the role of veteran when it comes to helping his younger teammates.

“I tell the guys all the time if they have questions in the classroom or on the field during plays, ask me,” he said. “At the same time, I’m on the same mission and that’s working daily.”

➤ Johnson said he likes what he has seen from QB Sam Darnold in practices at camp and during the spring.

“He’s getting better and better, making the right reads,” Johnson said. “I’ve said it before: He can make every throw, he can scramble. He can run to his left and throw back to his right on a dime. He’s special. Most definitely, he’s going to help this team win.”

➤ Gase said he has not seen any rust from RB Le’Veon Bell in the first two days.

“I asked Sam yesterday, ‘Hey, was he asking you what he had?’ He was like, ‘ He didn’t say anything,’ ” Gase said. “He didn’t have many mistakes, if any. If he doesn’t know what he’s doing, he’s faking it pretty good.”