The New York Jets released guard Kelechi Osemele on Saturday (Oct. 26) after the former Pro Bowler filed an injury grievance against the team last week and had an unauthorized surgery on Friday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.
The Jets had been fining Osemele the maximum amount allowed under the collective bargaining agreement — in his case, $579,000 per week, the amount of each of his game checks — for conduct detrimental for the team because he refused to practice and underwent the surgery without authorization.
Osemele’s agent Andrew Kessler said they will continue with the grievance process and hope to have the fines rescinded. “They owe him the balance of his contract both under the standard injury guarantee provision of the player contract and under termination pay,” he said in a statement. “We will pursue through that and all fines to be rescinded through grievances.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Saturday that the surgery revealed that damage to the shoulder was more extensive than initially expected, and Osemele’s agents and the NFLPA are considering taking legal action against the Jets’ doctor for violating state medical board regulations.
Per Kelechi Osemele’s agents: Osemele’s surgery went well yesterday, but damage to shoulder was more extensive than anticipated. His representatives and NFLPA are now considering specific action against the Jets’ team doctor for violations of State Medical Board Regulations.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 26, 2019
The Jets signed linebacker James Burgess from the practice squad to take Osemele’s spot on the roster and had no comment on his release. Osemele was due to make $5.2 million in the final nine weeks of the season.
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