Decimated by injuries, including linebacker C.J. Mosley (strained groin) and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (sprained left ankle), the Jets trotted out a revised defense against a Browns offense littered with dangerous skill players.
Already weak in the secondary, New York appeared to be without one of its key defenders and starting corner Trumaine Johnson, whom the team signed for five years and $72.5 million before the 2018 season.
But when the Jets took the field for the first three quarters of Monday's 23-3 loss to Cleveland at MetLife Stadium, Johnson stayed on the sidelines as Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (325 passing yards) and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (161 receiving yards) rolled New York through the air.
"We just decided not to play him," Jets head coach Adam Gase said of Johnson, who only played after cornerback Nate Hairston left the game with an injury late in the third quarter.
Johnson was just as coy.
"I was going with the ones, back and forth, all week during practice," Johnson said. "... I didn't play. I was just there to support my teammates today."