There is growing concern inside the Jets that linebacker Jonathan Vilma, a captain and leader of the defense, might be lost for an extended period – possibly the season – with a knee injury.
Vilma, according to coach Eric Mangini yesterday, suffered the injury during the Jets’ 38-31 loss to the Bengals in Cincinnati and was removed from the lineup several times in the game because of that.
When asked Monday why Vilma, who rarely comes out of games, not only was taken out in the second half but was ineffective in the game, Mangini quickly made an alibi for his defensive captain, saying his performance was “dramatically affected” by an injury.
Mangini didn’t disclose the nature of injury on Monday.
Then Vilma, on his weekly paid radio appearance on WFAN on Tuesday, raised eyebrows and speculation that something odd was going on when he contradicted Mangini, saying an injury had nothing to do with him being pulled from the lineup, that it was a “coach’s decision.”
This followed some curious behavior from Vilma after the game Sunday, when he was humming to himself when reporters approached his locker. When asked about the humming, Vilma told reporters, “I can’t really say what I feel.”
Players are forbidden by Mangini to talk about injuries, so that makes some sense. What doesn’t make sense is why Vilma would make it sound, on his radio spot, like he had no idea why he was pulled.
That brings us to yesterday, when Mangini volunteered that Vilma’s injury was a knee problem and that he was having “some more tests done.”
That was an inadvertent revelation that Vilma had tests done on Tuesday as well. A source told The Post that the initial news wasn’t good.
If Vilma is out for an extended period, he’ll be replaced by rookie David Harris.
Meanwhile, The Post has learned that LB Matt Chatham will be activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list to the 53-man roster.