The New York Jets have more problems outside of just their quarterback issue. With Ryan Fitzpatrick unimpressive in his brief time on the field, there are other things taking place on the roster that need the team's focus as training camp continues. With questions surrounding the run game and wide receiver depth, the defense also has injuries beginning to rack up.
In the offseason, Muhammad Wilkerson made a big stink about wanting a contract extension as he enters the final year of his deal. The defensive end made a point to hold out of OTAs hoping to get a contract that never came. Now, a hamstring injury that was originally reported as minor appears to be something more serious.
According to Kieran Darcy of ESPN.com, Wilkerson suffered a setback in his recovery from a hamstring injury and will not be back on the field for the foreseeable future. If this is a reoccurring headline for the Jets, New York will have some problems.
"Everybody knows me -- I wanna be out there with my teammates and I want to be practicing and getting involved with the guys," Wilkerson said, via ESPN.com. "But for right now, I just gotta do my job, stand on the side and help out the players the best that I can."
With Sheldon Richardson out, Wilkerson is the man on the defensive line and there is no question the Jets need him healthy. Leonard Williams offered up an unimpressive debut for New York against the Detroit Lions which puts even more stress on Wilkerson to get healthy. The defensive end declined to comment about whether or not the injury was hurting contract talks.
The offense also has some question marks which include Jeremy Kerley's ability to be a No.3 or No.4 receiver. With bigger questions at the quarterback position than before, all of the wide receivers need to step up big time. Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are the top two threats in the rotation, leaving Kerley to play backup duty along with rookie Devin Smith when he returns. With Geno Smith, Matt Flynn is coming in for a workout with New York and could play backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick and Bryce Petty. They need Kerley at his best.
One issue the Jets might not be so concerned about is the running back position. Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell made a strong tandem for New York. With Stevan Ridley's return from an ACL tear unknown, offensive coordinator Chan Gailey must have been pleased with what he saw from the ground game.
