Ailing ankle could ground Jets' Wilkerson for Ravens
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) - Big Mo might be a no-go for Sunday.
New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson is questionable to play against the Baltimore Ravens because of an ailing right ankle.
Wilkerson didn't practice Friday after being limited Thursday and sitting out Wednesday. Coach Todd Bowles said Wilkerson didn't have a setback, but was "more sore than normal" and could be a game-time decision. Bowles added "it's possible" Wilkerson will not play.
Wilkerson had a career-high 12 sacks last season before breaking his right fibula in the regular-season finale at Buffalo. He received a five-year, $86 million deal in July and worked his way back from the injury to be ready for the season opener, in which he had 1 1/2 sacks.
Wilkerson has been mostly quiet since, and told Newsday that his foot has been bothering him "for a couple weeks."
He echoed Bowles' comments while telling the newspaper he has had no setbacks and didn't know if the injury has affected his play. He is tied for fifth on the Jets with 26 overall tackles and leads the team with seven tackles for loss, but he hasn't quite had the impact yet that he had in previous seasons.
When asked if sitting out a game might help him, Wilkerson told Newsday he "can't make that call."
On Friday, Bowles insisted that Wilkerson was fully healthy when the season began.
"As far as the doctors and the trainers and his rehab went, he was doing fine," Bowles said. "They went through every test possible to get him on the field ready to play. We don't play injured players. We don't force injured players to play."
In other injuries, rookie linebacker Darron Lee, who leads the team with 34 overall tackles, had already been ruled out Thursday against Baltimore with a sprained ankle. Offensive lineman Brent Qvale (neck) and tight ends Austin Seferian-Jenkins (sprained ankle) and Braedon Bowman (knee) also will not play.
Center Nick Mangold (knee) and left tackle Ryan Clady (shoulder) after being limited Thursday and Friday, but are expected to play.
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