Jets should not rush Muhammad Wilkerson back

The New York Jets should take their time and not rush defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson back from injury prematurely.

The New York Jets really need to protect defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and keep him from playing in the preseason finale against the New York Giants. There is no need to rush him back and have him play in games that don’t matter as they need to get him ready for the regular season.

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Last season, Wilkerson suffered a broken leg in the last game of the season against the Buffalo Bills. What also made the season even tougher was them losing the last game of the year which prevented them from going to the NFL Playoffs. In 2016, the Jets are going to need all hands on deck and will need their leader on the field during the season. If they try to rush him back, especially int heir preseason finale, he could suffer an injury, or he could reaggravate his broken leg.

This season, the Jets will need all hands on deck because of how tough their schedule is the first six games of the year. They will need to make sure he is 100% before he steps on the football field. We all know Wilkerson is a key part, and leader of this defense but they need to realize he is someone you want on the field for the whole year, and not just half of the season.

The defense will be tested heavily right off the bat when they play the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Arizona Cardinals. These six opponents are a true test for Jets as they are all playoff contending teams.

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This defense has a chance to be a top-five defense that could cause major problems for opposing teams.

Every team knows when Wilkerson is on the field as he is the main focus and will need to be double teamed.

The coaching staff and team doctors need to monitor this injury carefully.

Wilkerson had his best season last year as his statistics were fantastic, earning him Pro Bowl honors.

In 2015, Wilkerson totaled 64 combined tackles, 39 total tackles, and 12 quarterback sacks. Now that he has the long-term deal that he has been wanting for a long time now, the Jets know he’s in it for the long haul.

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Overall, Wilkerson suffered a gruesome injury to his leg that no one knows how he will be this upcoming season. If the Jets try to rush him back it could hinder his overall performance in games that actually matter.