One year ago, Muhammad Wilkerson was tearing through any obstacle rolling up sacks, a career-high 12 for the eventual 10-6 Jets. Then he suffered a broken right leg in Week 17. This season, when Wilkerson also endured a related ankle injury that forced him to miss Week 7’s game against Baltimore, his sacks are down to 2.5 for the currently 3-8 Jets.
Coach Todd Bowles was asked about the obvious drop in production by the defensive stud.
“I guess he fought so hard to get back. He was nicked up a little early on. He’s trying to get in a groove,” Bowles said. “Balls aren’t coming his way. Some balls are coming out quicker. They’re paying more attention to him. A lot of things. He’s playing, he’s commanding the attention. Other guys have to start making plays.”
Bowles acknowledged that earlier in the season, Wilkerson simply did not seem as explosive off the ball. But the further the injuries fade into the past, the better Wilkerson gets.
“Early in the year I saw a little bit of it. He’s still getting the kinks out of it sometimes, but he’s feeling a lot better now, so I expect to see a lot better Mo,” Bowles said, indicating he believes the ankle is no longer an issue.
“I don’t think so. I asked him and he said it wasn’t. He’ll never admit if he’s hurt or not. He’s been practicing fully, so he’s been healthy for the past week and a half or so.
“I think he’s played OK. I don’t think anybody’s played great. Last time he’s played, he fit right in with the rest of the group. All of us can get better.”
Rookie Juston Burris seemed to have had a more prominent place in the cornerback rotation earlier in the season, but his time has dwindled. Patience, Bowles said.
“His time will come,” the coach said. “He’s playing a lot of special teams right now. He gets a lot of reps in practice. We’re very high on Juston. I think he’s got a bright future.”
Déjà vu is the sensation that an event or occurrence has been experienced before. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was asked about staying confident after a tough defeat.
“It’s kind of been a broken record the last few weeks, but [it’s about] being professionals,” Fitzpatrick said. “Coming in and doing your job every day. That’s the important thing and especially for some of the older guys that have been through stuff like this. Just setting a good example and showing the young guys the way.”
Bowles on his outside linebackers: “They’re getting better. [Lorenzo] Mauldin’s becoming a complete outside linebacker. He’s playing the run. We knew he could rush the passer, but he’s getting better every week. … With Jordan [Jenkins] getting back healthy, he’s going through and getting better as a player, but we can always get more production, but they are getting better.”
Bowles said Mauldin had a slow start because “he didn’t have the game down mentally from a defensive standpoint at that time.” But with learning the defense and schemes, “he got better when the game slowed down for him.”