New York Jets: Muhammad Wilkerson should not be cut

The New York Jets will have a decision to make at the end of 2017, and they will likely keep Muhammad Wilkerson.

As Allen Iverson once said, we’re talking ’bout practice. In the case of New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, he hasn’t been at practice. In fact, he has missed the last four as he’s nursing multiple injuries. The weird part is that his play is getting better, despite missing those practices.

Everyone is wrapped up in the sack numbers when it comes to whether the Jets should allow his cap number to hit the books in 2018 or release him. He was clearly playing through pain, and not producing — but he was still giving everything he could.

If there was no effort from Wilkerson, then fine, he deserves to get cut at the end of the season. However he was getting double-teamed, fighting through pain and playing to the best of his ability, despite the injuries. So, who can fault him for low sack numbers.

Even though he only has two sacks on the season (one in each of the last two games), he has contributed in other ways. He has three tackles for loss, and he’s being disruptive in the passing game with three pass deflections and an interception off a batted ball. He also has 29 total tackles and 17 solo tackles. that shows he hustling and getting to the ball, even if it’s not behind the line of scrimmage.

It’s not all about stats in football. It’s the one sport where you can’t always measure someone on a box score. Sometimes you can just chalk a lack of production up to an injury and move on.

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Wilkerson seems to be getting healthy at the right time too. The Jets are heading to Tampa Bay to take on the hapless Buccaneers. It may be just in time for Wilkerson to finally shine and prove he’s worth keeping around for