Leonhard frustrated by latest injury
Jim Leonhard can't believe his season was cut short again, leaving him unavailable for the Jets' playoff push for a second consecutive season.
"It's obviously frustrating," the Jets safety said on WFAN Tuesday. "It's not the way you envision your season ending, but it's the risk you take when you play this game and it is frustrating, especially the second year in a row.
"The last two years, honestly, out of my seven in the NFL, I've felt as good as I had going into December, and then have two fluky things happen like this and end the season short is frustrating."
Leonhard, who tore the patellar tendon in his right knee in Sunday's win over the Chiefs and was placed on injured reserve Monday, said he's scheduled to have surgery this morning. He was hurt after making a second-quarter interception and getting tackled by Steve Breaston at the Kansas City 38-yard line.
Since he's in the final season of a three-year, $5.8-million contract, the 29-year-old admitted he's already thought about the possibility he's played his last game as a Jet, considering he's had season-ending injuries in consecutive seasons. He broke his right leg in practice last December.
"Absolutely," said Leonhard, whose wife, Katie, is expecting their first child, a boy, within the next two weeks. "I think that's kind of where your mind goes right away. What is next? I don't have a contract for next year and coming off back-to-back injuries like this, obviously, you are going to get that tag." "I've loved my experience here. Whatever happens, I'm going to be back. I'm going to rehab this thing as hard as I can. One thing I can say is I've always come back from things like this stronger, and we'll see what happens."
Still, he made it clear he wants to return to the Jets.
"I hope so," Leonhard said. "I've loved my time here and, in my opinion, you can't beat this staff. So I'd love to be here again and we'll see how it all plays out."
The Jets signed five-year veteran safety Gerald Alexander to add depth at the position.
