Jets lineman in car crash
MUHAMMAD Wilkerson willbe ready for Jets training camp next month, despite being involved in a scary car crash over the weekend.
The Jets’ second-year defensive lineman was traveling northbound on the Garden State Parkway early Saturday morning, Garden State trooper Christopher Kay said, when his green 2011 Dodge Challenger struck the rear of a 2011 Toyota Siena.
Wilkerson’s car flipped over. The 6-4, 315-pound defender was trapped but extricated himself before state troopers arrived at 4:29 a.m.
Wilkerson was taken to University Hospital in Newark, and was treated for “minor injuries,” Kay said. On Monday, Wilkerson voluntarily visited the Jets’ facility in Florham Park for a physical from team doctors. He received several stitches in his forearm and was pronounced ready for training camp. The Jets do not expect him to miss any time.
“Muhammad is OK,” said Wilkerson’s agent, Chad Wiestling.
Alcohol did not play a role, Kay said, adding that the accident was Wilkerson’s fault. Wilkerson, who was driving alone, was cited for “careless driving” and “failure to maintain a lane.” He will draw fines for both tickets, Kay said, and the investigation has been closed.
There were several occupants in the other vehicle, Kay said, but none reported injuries. They all declined medical attention, although Kay noted that three of them did complain about pain.
The accident came during an otherwise stellar offseason for Wilkerson. The Jets’ 2011 first-round pick had a solid rookie campaign last season, making 49 tackles while collecting three sacks. During the team’s three-day minicamp earlier this month, he seemed poised to build on that, teaming with 2012 first-round selection Quinton Coples to form what should be the heart of the Jets’ defensive line. “He’s going to be hard to ignore, that’s for sure,” Rex Ryan said of Wilkerson during the minicamp. “He actually got better as the season went on. He was playing at a super-high level by the end of the season, and he’s actually gotten better.”
The Jets hope that the accident does not change that.
“The team is aware of the car accident on Saturday morning, and has been in contact with Muhammad,” the Jets said in a statement.