Jets' Jermaine Johnson cuts out sugary drinks in hopes of sacking Ravens' Lamar Jackson

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Jermaine Johnson made a little change to his diet to get ready to chase and possibly take down Lamar Jackson this weekend.

The Jets edge rusher is off sugary drinks.

“He’s definitely very dynamic in the backfield, very dynamic at extending plays with his legs,” Johnson said after Thursday’s practice. “I’ve been doing extra running, staying off sugary drinks and stuff like that, getting ready for him. Very special player.”

Johnson isn’t kidding. He believes it will make him quicker and more effective on Sunday when the Jets (2-8) face the Ravens (5-5).

“That’s more of a personal thing,” Johnson said. “I’m chasing after a lot of guys as the season’s going on and I just want to shed off any kind of weight that’s slowing me down so I can turn those hurries or hits or pressures into sacks because I can do that. This is a guy this weekend, it’s very important.”

Jackson is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher from the quarterback position, totaling 6,399 yards on the ground. Some have come on designed runs; many others are from the pocket collapsing and Jackson just taking off.

Johnson said it’s “super-cool” to play against Jackson, a two-time MVP. His first NFL sack came when he brought down Jackson on Sept. 11, 2022, and he hopes to add more to his collection.

“I’m looking to be able to get one or two more on Sunday against him,” Johnson said.

Maybe less sugar will help. Johnson also spent extra time in the film room, watching the Ravens’ last game against Cleveland.

Johnson focused on the Browns’ edge rusher supreme, Myles Garrett, and how he attacked Jackson. Garrett had four sacks and five quarterback hits despite all the attention he received from Baltimore’s offensive line.

“You just got to stay active, man,” Johnson said. “Stay active, high motor, keep going. In the Cleveland game, I seen Myles getting after him. He’s just very active. It didn’t happen instantly on all of those. He’s very active.

“Myles is very generational. He does that at a very elite and special level. Just being able to watch that and take that from the game, see how he approaches those guys — you always want to take what you can from a performance like that and apply to you.”

The Ravens, who have won four straight games, have other weapons that could cause the Jets’ defense trouble.

Derrick Henry needs 193 yards for his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. The way the Ravens run the ball overall opens up the passing game for receiver Zay Flowers (53 catches, 703 yards) and tight end Mark Andrews, who has four touchdowns in the last three games.

“We have a different and unique challenge in regards to Jackson and Henry, two of the best at their position in the game and what they do and the things that they present,” Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks said. “Then when you add in Flowers, Andrews, [Isaiah] Likely, they have a very unique group of guys on offense that can create problems across the board.”

The Jets’ defense is coming off a game in New England in which they gave up too many passes to wide-open receivers. Breakdowns in execution and communication led to that. Wilks said he has to be better at making sure his players have “clarity” and understand what’s expected on each play.

Johnson, who missed three games this season with an ankle injury, has been more impactful the last two games. He has two sacks, three tackles for loss and three quarterback hits. Wilks also noticed that Johnson has tried to be more of a leader since Quinnen Williams was traded to Dallas.

“He’s getting back to his form,” Wilks said. “Then also . . . he’s stepped up in the absence of Quinnen and you can see him trying to be a little bit more assertive. Not only with the D-line room, but just with the whole defense as a whole. So I appreciate that from him.”

Notes & quotes: Defensive backs coach Chris Harris on the Jets having zero interceptions this season: “We dropped a few. It starts with catching the ones that hit your hand . . . I guess that’s how you start with getting one.” . . . Will McDonald (quadriceps) and Harrison Phillips (foot) returned to practice on a limited basis after not participating on Wednesday . . . Kick returner Kene Nwangwu (hamstring) did not practice.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.