Osemele doubtful after defying Jets with surgery
Victor Cruz and Rob Ninkovich both expect the Jaguars to win vs. the struggling Jets. (0:57)
New York Jets guard Kelechi Osemele, who is engaged in an injury dispute with the organization, didn’t show up Friday to the team facility — and it was deemed an unexcused absence by the Jets, a source said.
Osemele was in Boston to have surgery Friday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, according to his agent, Andrew Kessler. The procedure wasn’t authorized by the Jets, who have since listed Osemele as doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The surgery didn’t come as a surprise, as Osemele indicated Wednesday that he was planning to have it whether or not he received authorization.
The Jets continue to fine him for conduct detrimental to the team. Osemele said he’s being fined the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement. In his case, that’s $579,000 per week, the amount of his game checks.
Coach Adam Gase refused to comment Friday. No one from the organization has commented on the controversy, which exploded last Friday when Osemele revealed to reporters that he needed surgery.
The two sides agreed that Osemele had a torn labrum, but they disagreed on when he should have the surgery. The Jets believed he could play through the injury, a source said. Osemele said he was in too much pain and needed immediate surgery.
On Wednesday, Osemele posted on social media a note from his third-opinion doctor, stating he needed surgery to repair a posterior/inferior labral tear and remove a large cyst. The doctor, Glen Ross, performed the arthroscopy.
On Thursday, the NFL Players Association tweeted a statement expressing its support for Osemele and saying it will explore its options.
Osemele, one of the Jets’ big offseason acquisitions, started the first three games despite injuring the shoulder during a training camp practice. He said he needed Toradol injections, prescribed by the team, to play through the pain.
Osemele said the team wanted him “to keep taking Toradol and brace it up.” Sources said the Jets were suspicious of the timing; the team claims that Osemele didn’t express concern about the injury until he was on the verge of losing his starting job after Week 3. Osemele’s camp disputes that, saying the team knew he was experiencing discomfort because he received treatment almost every day after the Aug. 5 injury.
Financially, it behooved him to have the surgery so he could rehab and be healthy for the offseason, when he presumably will be released by the team.
The Jets acquired Osemele in a March trade with the Oakland Raiders. His salary is $9.85 million this season, which became guaranteed when he made the opening-day roster. His 2020 salary ($11.35 million) is not guaranteed.