Wilkerson’s status with Jets in limbo
The future of Muhammad Wilkerson with the Jets remains in doubt.
Jets coach Todd Bowles said Wilkerson was at the team’s training center Monday for meetings, but Bowles would not say if Wilkerson will practice with the team Wednesday or play in the Jets’ final two games.
“We’ll see,” Bowles said. “It’s an internal thing. We’re still working through some things.”
Wilkerson was left at home for Sunday’s game against the Saints in New Orleans after he was late for a team meeting Friday. It was just the latest bout of tardiness for Wilkerson, who has been disciplined in each of the last three seasons for being late.
The Jets may be inclined to deactivate Wilkerson for the rest of the season to protect themselves financially. Wilkerson’s $16.75 million salary in 2018 is not guaran- teed except for injury. So the Jets can walk away from Wilkerson this winter without owing him any money unless he is seriously injured in one of the final two games. The Jets may not want to take that risk.
Bowles indicated the decision is not just his.
“There will be a lot of people involved in this,” Bowles said. The Jets waived receiver Jeremy Kerley on Monday. Kerley was coming off a four-game suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs. He returned to the Jets last week, but was not activated. The Jets had a one-week roster exemption that expired Monday.
The Jets brought Kerley back in Week 1 this year, signing him after the 49ers released him. He put up some decent production for the Jets, catching 22 passes for 217 yards and one touchdowns in eight games. Since he has been suspended, the Jets have played rookie Chad Hansen more and probably did not want to stunt Hansen’s development by bringing Kerley back.
The Jets made the move after Bowles’ conference call Monday, so he was unavailable for comment.
DE Leonard Williams is in the concussion protocol, but Bowles said “he’s doing fine.”
Bowles said even though the Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention, there is no plan to play second-year quarterback Christian Hackenberg.