Trumaine set to return at corner

Secondary help is on the way.

Jets top cornerback Trumaine Johnson is expected to return Sunday against the Bills after missing five games with a quad injury. Johnson, the team’s top free-agent signing this offseason, practiced fully on Thursday for the first time since getting hurt Sept. 30 in Jacksonville.

“I feel good,” Johnson said Thursday. “It’s a daily process… I’m definitely ready… I’m anxious to get out there.”

Johnson was shelved for a similar injury when he was with the Rams, so he admitted that he wasn’t surprised that it took five weeks to heal.

“He’s running around better,” Todd Bowles said. “We’ve just got to see what his conditioning is for the next couple days and see on Sunday.”

Darryl Roberts did a solid job in Johnson’s absence.

SAM WON’T START

Bowles confirmed that Sam Darnold, who didn’t practice for a second consecutive day due to a foot strain, won’t start against the Bills on Sunday. Bowles said “it’s possible” that Darnold could be the backup to Josh McCown. When Darnold is officially ruled out, the Jets will bring up Davis Webb from the practice squad.

BIG MAC

The Jets believe that Eli McGuire can boost a slumping run game. The second-year running back flashed his dual-threat skills in his first game back from a foot injury suffered early in training camp. McGuire finished with seven carries for 30 yards and three catches (on five targets) for 37 yards in last week’s loss to the Dolphins.

“I was really fired up about him last year,” offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates said Thursday. “For a young kid, he’s a true pro. He reminds me of Kevin Faulk as far as just understanding the game. He’s a special player and he loves the game. He played basketball in college, so he knows how to get open (and) knows how to move defenders. I thought he played really well.”