ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson had a terrible ending to a terrific season. Wilkerson broke his right leg in the third quarter of Sunday’s 22-17 loss to the Bills and likely will need surgery to repair it.
The injury occurred on a run by Boobie Dixon and Wilkerson got twisted awkwardly in the pile. The injury comes as Wilkerson is awaiting a payday. He is scheduled to become a free agent in March, although the Jets likely will apply the franchise tag to him.
Wilkerson will have an MRI exam Monday to determine whether surgery is necessary. After the game, Wilkerson exited on crutches with a boot on the lower right leg.
Fellow defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson spoke about the uncertainty around the defensive line with Wilkerson and nose tackle Damon Harrison both at the end of their contracts.
“You just can’t keep everybody on this defensive line,” Richardson said. “It’s just not realistic. Guys are going to play out their contracts. I’m gonna miss ‘em.”
Wilkerson, Harrison and Richardson have played together since 2013 and formed one of the most formidable lines in the NFL. Rookie Leonard Williams was added to that group this year.
“We grew up together, pretty much in the league,” Richardson said. “They helped me through a hard time in my life. It’s going to be tough.”
Williams and Richardson had two of the worst penalties of the Jets’ season on Sunday. Williams was called for unnecessary roughness in the first quarter after throwing a punch at Bills guard Richie Incognito.
“I was just getting pushed in my back. I retaliated, which I shouldn’t have,” Williams said.
The 11-yard penalty moved the ball to the Bills’ 11. Buffalo scored a touchdown four plays later to take a 13-0 lead.
Richardson jumped offsides on fourth-and-1 in the second quarter. The Bills ran a trick play with backup quarterback E.J. Manuel coming under center and Richardson entered the neutral zone. It extended the drive and the Bills kicked a field goal.
“They were costly,” Jets coach Todd Bowles said. ‘There are mistakes that can’t happen that we had happen in this game that we were pretty good at all year.”
The Jets broke a number of single-season records Sunday.
- Their 300 yards of offense gave them 5,925 this season, breaking the record of 5,896 set in 1985.
- Ryan Fitzpatrick’s two touchdowns gave him 31 this year, breaking Vinny Testaverde’s record of 29 set in 1998.
- Wide receiver Brandon Marshall set a new record for receiving yards with 1,502, breaking Don Maynard’s record from 1967 of 1,434.
- Marshall’s touchdown gave him 14 this year, tying him with Maynard (1965) and Art Powell (1960) for the most in franchise history.
- Marshall had his 10th 100-yard game for the season, breaking Maynard’s 1967 record.
WR Eric Decker and RB Chris Ivory both went over the 1,000-yard mark. Marshall (1,502), Decker (1,027) and Ivory (1,070). It is the first time the Jets had two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher since 1998.