NEW YORK — Big Mo will show for training camp.
New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson will report to the practice facility on Wednesday with the rest of his teammates despite being unhappy with his contract, according to a person familiar with his plans.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because neither Wilkerson nor the Jets announced the decision.
Wilkerson reported for mandatory minicamp last month, but was non-committal about showing for training camp.
"I’m not answering that question," Wilkerson said bluntly last month when asked if he would entertain thoughts of holding out of camp.
He stayed away from the team’s facility during voluntary workouts and practices earlier in the off-season while looking for a long-term deal. Wilkerson, one of the key parts of new coach Todd Bowles’ defence, is in the last year of his rookie contract and is due to make $6.97 million this season.
"I’m frustrated, yeah," Wilkerson said last month. "I thought that a deal would be made, but at the end of the day, it’s a business. These things take time."
The Jets report for camp Wednesday at their facility in Florham Park, New Jersey.
Wilkerson’s decision is not surprising, considering he stood to lose $30,000 per day of camp he skipped, per the league’s collective bargaining agreement.
There is hope from Wilkerson’s camp that an extension might still be worked out before the regular season, and contracts signed by fellow defensive linemen Cameron Jordan and Corey Liuget could serve as a basis. Jordan received a new deal from New Orleans that includes $34 million in guarantees, while Liuget got $30 million guaranteed from San Diego.
Wilkerson, Jordan and Liuget were all first-round picks in the 2011 draft.
Wilkerson has 24 1/2 sacks, a safety, seven forced fumbles and 14 passes defenced in his first four NFL seasons, while establishing himself as one of the league’s rising talents at defensive end. He highlights a Jets defensive line that is widely considered one of the NFL’s best and includes Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison and first-round pick Leonard Williams.
