Two of the New York Jets’ best defensive linemen, Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, were benched for the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins. After the game, nobody from the Jets gave a reason for the decision to have Wilkerson and Richardson sit, but reports emerged Monday that paint a clearer picture.
The Jets benched Muhammad Wilkerson for missing his birthday party (sort of)
Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson often skip out on team meetings, according to reports.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
According to Connor Hughes of New Jersey Advance Media, a source close to the situation said that Richardson and Wilkerson miss team meetings regularly. The source added that it happens “regularly” and “definitely” more frequently than other Jets players miss team meetings.
Apparently, nothing can convince Wilkerson to show up for defensive meetings — not even birthday cake.
Wilkerson left the locker room following Sunday’s loss without speaking to reporters. Richardson answered questions, but didn’t add much clarity to the situation.
“That was the starting lineup and that’s where I was,” Richardson said.
Head coach Todd Bowles didn’t give any reason for Wilkerson and Richardson’s benching, saying only that it was a coaches’ decision.
Wilkerson was benched for the first quarter of the Jets’ 2015 matchup against the New York Giants for being late to a team meeting, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
The Dolphins scored a touchdown on a 20-yard Jay Ajayi run on Miami’s first possession of the game with Richardson and Wilkerson on the sideline. Richardson has 35 tackles and 1.5 sacks on the season so far, and Wilkerson has 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks. The Jets lost, 27-23.
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