Jets running back Chris Johnson is doing his best to keep quiet, but his disappearing role on this team is clearly bothering him.
Johnson played just 16 of the 84 (19 percent) offensive snaps in Sunday’s 43-23 loss to the Bills. He had just three carries for seven yards and two catches for 13.
“Of course I’m frustrated,” Johnson told The Post on Wednesday. “On top of having a limited role, not playing as much as I want to play and then on top of that we’re 1-7. It’s frustrating.”
Johnson’s role has been much smaller than anyone expected entering this season. He has played 34 percent of the snaps this season, as Chris Ivory has emerged as the team’s lead back. Johnson has just 268 yards on 67 carries with one touchdown and 14 catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
The former 2,000-yard back said he is surprised by how he has been used, but does not want to complain to the coaches.
“I don’t want to be a distraction in the locker room,” Johnson said. “This situation, I’m pretty sure just like I see it, everybody else sees it. I don’t want to be labeled as one of those guys who start controversy or start problems. I just continue to pray about the situation and continue to take advantage when I get opportunities and see what comes of it.”
Jets coach Rex Ryan said he believes Johnson’s limited role last week was because of the lopsided score, but the game did not get out of hand until the fourth quarter. Ryan was asked if the Jets are phasing Johnson out.
“No, I don’t believe so,” Ryan said. “I think he will get plenty of shots at it this week.”
The Jets have managed to create just three turnovers on defense this season. The NFL record for fewest in a 16-game season is 11, set last season by the Texans. At their current pace, the Jets will shatter that record and finish with 6. But Ryan does not see that happening.
“I have been a part of a lot of record-setting defenses, but I never thought I would set one in futility,” Ryan said. “Thank goodness the year isn’t over. I bet we won’t be there, I bet we won’t break that record before the year is over, but we can’t buy one. Even when the ball hits us in the hands, it doesn’t seem like [we convert]. We could have given up 10 turnovers last week, and yet we can’t get one on defense. So, again you just go out, you talk about it, you emphasize it, but it has to get done better than it’s been getting done for sure.”
WR Jeremy Kerley (illness) and CB Darrin Walls (calf, knee) did not practice. LG Oday Aboushi (shoulder), RG Willie Colon (knee), LB David Harris (shoulder), LB Trevor Reilly (knee) and QB Geno Smith (shoulder) were limited.