FLORHAM PARK, N.J. _ Just when you thought all was quiet with Muhammad Wilkerson, things erupted again.
Jets coach Todd Bowles suspended the starting defensive end for Sunday's game at New Orleans because he was late to a Friday morning team meeting, according to a source.
This is the second time this season Wilkerson was late to a meeting. He was tardy the day before a Dec. 3 game against the Chiefs and was benched for the majority of the first quarter. He played the next week at Denver without further incident. But Friday, Wilkerson again was late to the Jets' facility and Bowles had enough.
"I'm worried about the guys that I'm coaching," Bowles said when asked about Wilkerson. "I'm not worried about Mo right now."
The continued lateness for Wilkerson raises questions about his long-term status with the club. He's been benched in each of the last three seasons for being late to a meeting.
After last week's game against the Broncos, Wilkerson was asked about his future and said, "you have to ask Todd."
Bowles would not go into specifics regarding Wilkerson's future with the team.
Wilkerson earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 2015 after a 64-tackle, 12-sack season, but he fractured his fibula in the regular-season finale. Instead of instituting the franchise tag on Wilkerson, the Jets signed him to a five-year, $86 million deal with $36.7 million guaranteed, making him the team's highest-paid player. After signing that contract, Wilkerson dealt with issues to his leg, toe and shoulder, and ineffective play.
Last season, Wilkerson had 4{ sacks and 58 tackles. This season, Wilkerson went seven weeks without picking up a sack but has compiled 3{ sacks and 46 total tackles.
Wilkerson's 2018 salary of $16.75 million will be fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year in March. If he's released before then, the Jets save $11 million on the salary cap and will have $9 million in dead money.
The Jets will use a variety of players to replace him on the defensive line and could start Kony Ealy at end.
"I feel like we're going to go down there and play really well," Ealy said. "We've been working hard all week, just stick to that."
Wilkerson was not in the locker room after Friday's practice. He has upset team officials with his lack of production on the field and discipline off it.
Asked if it was more frustrating that he has to discipline Wilkerson so late in the season, Bowles replied, "Part of the job."
Bowles addressed the situation with his players on Friday and said the mission is the same: play the Saints.
"The game is always the next man up so whoever is out there you got to be ready," linebacker Demario Davis said. "It's a professional game, we got a very good group so whoever is at the position, we got to be ready. It's a tough challenge and we all got to be locked in. If you're missing a certain player everybody has to take their play up and we have to be ready to do that."
