Jets challenge Osemele on severity of shoulder injury

The New York Jets and left guard Kelechi Osemele are embroiled in a bizarre dispute concerning the severity of the player's shoulder injury, according to SNY's Ralph Vacchiano.

Osemele was reportedly advised to undergo surgery as soon as possible to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, which he suffered Aug. 5 and was again bothered by recently. The injury has kept him sidelined since Week 3.

However, two doctors - one with the team and one independent - told the Jets that the eight-year veteran didn't need surgery and was medically cleared to play.

The two doctors also determined that Osemele suffered the injury before he was traded to the Jets, a source told Vacchiano.

New York has therefore informed Osemele that he will be subject to a fine or suspension if he doesn't practice Saturday.

"I think they just want me to play through the injury, but obviously I tried to go and I can't go," Osemele told reporters Friday. "I've been doing everything I can and it's just not there. I can't control that. It's an injury. It's torn. So until it's fixed, I can't really do anything."

He added: "It's pain, it's strength, it's instability. I can't lock my arm out. I can't stop a guy from bull-rushing me. I just can't do my job."

Alex Lewis, who was acquired by Jets general manager Joe Douglas, has replaced Osemele in the lineup. Douglas was not the team's GM when it traded for Osemele in March, and there was some speculation that the 30-year-old may lose in job to Lewis in August when he suffered the initial shoulder injury, sources told Vacchiano.

Nonetheless, the guard said Douglas has handled this situation well.

"He's communicated to me that there's no bad intentions or anything like that," said Osemele. "He's communicated to me that it's miscommunication and that it would be better. So I'm just waiting."