Jets guard Kelechi Osemele revealed from his locker Wednesday after practice that he plans to have surgery Friday.
The procedure will be done on a torn labrum in his shoulder after he missed the Jets' past three games to start October.
After multiple opinions from the Jets and independently, Osemele said that he ultimately wanted to take care of his body.
"It's really their decision to choose to authorize it or not," Osemele said. "But I have to take care of my body, I got to take care of my health. You know, I've got a family so I'm going to take care of myself."
On Wednesday night, Osemele posted a note on Instagram he said is from a doctor recommending that he have surgery.
Osemele signed a five-year contract worth $58 million before the 2016 season with the Oakland Raiders, who traded the two-time Pro Bowler to the Jets in March.
The Jets have Osemele signed through 2020, but a source told SNY's Ralph Vacchiano that his days are numbered after he decided to shut things down, against the team's wishes.
Kelechi Osemele says the Jets believe that he can play through his injury because he's been playing with it and it shouldn't have gotten any worse pic.twitter.com/SyOOBN08M4
- Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 23, 2019
"He's played his last down for that team," the source said. "He's gone. It's just a question of when."
While the recovery will sideline him for 4-6 months, Osemele said that he wants to continue his NFL career in 2020.
Osemele started the Jets' first three games of the 2019 season, but said that he played through the pain in his shoulder and he made the injury worse as a result.
"It's a slow-moving process, but the process is still moving," Osemele said. "...The decision is pretty much made."
Osemele calls the situation "slightly disrespectful" pic.twitter.com/V9ec7nHA8C
- Jets Videos (@snyjets) October 23, 2019
Osemele, 30, faced discipline from the Jets for refusing to practice as ordered Saturday. The Jets labeled Osemele's actions as "conduct detrimental to the team." They were able to fine Osemele up to one week's pay, which comes out to $579,411.77 per week -- a game check from his $9.85 million salary for 2019.
"I've made a lot of money in my career," Osemele said. I'm not one of those people that does s--t for money at this point in my life. So my health is important to me."