AN INJURY FRACTURE
Team, Osemele spar over surgery need
The Jets and guard Kelechi Osemele are engaged in a standoff over whether he needs shoulder surgery.
Osemele has not played or practiced since the Sept. 22 game against the Patriots. Osemele said Friday he needs to have season-ending surgery on his shoulder for a torn labrum, but the Jets will not authorize it.
The Jets feel Osemele does not require surgery immediately. Two doctors, according to a source, determined he had the injury before this season, and can play through it and possibly have surgery in the offseason.
Osemele said he first injured the shoulder Aug. 5 in a training camp practice, then reinjured it while making a tackle after an interception against the Patriots.
“It’s been killing me,” Osemele said Friday. “I’m just trying to get this done. I’ve done everything I can. I’ve been at work every day, waking up at 5 in the morning, doing all the rehab and the treatments and stuff like that. I’m like the last dude out of here at night. I’m doing everything I can. I’m working with my agent. We’re communicating with the team. There’s just not communication between the team and my doctor and my agent. It’s just been butting
heads for whatever reason. Hopefully, it gets resolved soon.” A source said the Jets informed Osemele later Friday he was required to practice Saturday or he would face either a fine or suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. The timing of Osemele’s request for surgery raised some eyebrows. The coaches were planning on benching him in favor of Alex Lewis after that September game against the Patriots. Though no one is denying he has an injury, the severity is disputed. Osemele may have decided to have the surgery when he felt he was losing his starting job. There was no mention of a shoulder injury during training camp for Osemele, though he did miss time with a pectoral injury. He then appeared on the injury report two days before the game against the Patriots with a knee injury. The Jets had a bye week after that game. Osemele said that is when he made them aware of his need to have surgery. He was examined by team doctors, then sought a second opinion from a doctor in California. Here is where things get murky. Osemele said the doctors told him he needs surgery. A source said the doctors did not say he needs surgery immediately and can play through the injury.
After the bye week, Osemele did not practice before the Jets faced the Eagles and was listed with shoulder and knee injuries. Last week, he was also listed as having an illness.
Osemele said he has talked with general manager Joe Douglas several times in recent weeks. He is hopeful the team will sign the worker’s compensation forms needed to pay for the surgery.
“It’s been about three weeks, so I’m just waiting for them to do that because they wouldn’t send my second opinion to my doctor, so that’s why it’s been taking so long. I’ve needed it since the bye week,” Osemele said. “We’ve known since then, so just waiting on that.”
Osemele said he can’t lock his arm out and does not have the strength to block anyone. “There’s no avoiding [surgery],” he said. The Jets acquired Osemele, 30, in a trade with the Raiders in March. They traded their fifth-round pick for Osemele and a sixth-round pick. He started the first three games this year and struggled mightily along with most of the offensive line.