Wilkerson rises above criticism
The criticism has come at Muhammad Wilkerson from all directions this season. People have questioned his effort, his desire and his ability. “I could honestly care less what anybody is saying about me,” Wilkerson told The Post on Tuesday. “They’re not in my shoes. They’re not out there playing with the pads on. I’ve got the pads on. “When people sit down and they really understand and know football and watch the film and they know that if I’m in my gap, then I did my job. If the coaches tell me I’m doing my job, then there’s nothing much to that [criticism].” Wilkerson has shut his critics up over the past two games against the Dolphins and Falcons. Wilkerson has regained the form that made him a Pro Bowler in 2015 and led the Jets to sign him to a fiveyear, $86 million deal. Against the Falcons on Sunday, Wilkerson recorded his first sack of the season, but more impressive was how active he looked. Wilkerson was a constant force for the Jets. He had five solo tackles, two for a loss, and disrupted quarterback Matt Ryan on more than one occasion. That followed a strong performance in Miami where he showed his old explosion and answered any questions about his drive when he chased down Jay Ajayi on a screen pass down field. Pro Football Focus ranked Wilkerson sixth among 101 qualified interior defenders during the two-week span. “I’m just doing my job,” Wilkerson said about the past few weeks. “The coaches are calling plays to put myself and the rest of the guys in position to make plays and we’re making them. The first couple of weeks we weren’t doing that. We’re playing some good, solid ball on defense. We just have to close out games better.” Injuries have slowed Wilkerson again this season. After dealing with an ankle/foot problem all of last year that lingered following his surgery to repair a broken bone after the 2015 season, Wilkerson has had a shoulder sprain and turf toe to battle this season. Wilkerson has not practiced in the last four weeks. He gets pain-killing shots in the shoulder and toe on game day to play.
Wilkerson has not used the injuries as an excuse. Pain management has become part of his weekly routine.
“I’m pretty sure you could ask any player — once you start training camp, your body is never 100 percent,” Wilkerson said. “It’s like I’ve been saying — nicks and injuries are part of this business, part of this game. I’ve just got to fight through it and play through it and take care of my body, which I’m doing.”
One big difference this season in Wilkerson has been his leadership. When the Jets cut loose several veterans this offseason, Wilkerson knew he had to fill that void. It was evident after the heartbreaking loss to the Dolphins two weeks ago, when Wilkerson was the one who delivered the postgame speech, saying the players needed to look at themselves and figure out what type of team they wanted to be.
“I’ve always felt that I was a leader but I did not have to be vocal,” Wilkerson said. “I feel like I’m a little more vocal now. I feel like I’m a teammate — that when I talk, I’m pretty sure the other guys are listening. It is what it is. I enjoy it. I love this game. I enjoy being here with my brothers each and every day.”
Wilkerson’s future with the Jets is uncertain. The team can move on from him this offseason since his 2018 salary does not become guaranteed until March. But that is a long way off.
Right now, Wilkerson is concentrating on the Bills on Thursday night and how he is going to corral LeSean McCoy and Tyrod Taylor.
“I’ve been feeling good the past couple of weeks,” Wilkerson said. “I just have to build on that.”