Willie Colon on retiring at end of season: 'We'll see'

When Willie Colon looks in the mirror, he sees a 10-year NFL veteran. He thinks of his injury-plagued right knee, his lost 2015 season. And it forces him to look long term.

"[Retirement], it's always going to be at the center of the conversation when you're 10 years in and have the injuries that I've had, so we'll see,'' Colon, 32, said Tuesday at his third annual turkey drive at Bronx Works Classic Center. "After the end of the season, I got to have an honest conversation with myself and what my future's going to be and move on from there.''

The Jets placed the right guard on injured reserve Nov. 11, ending a season in which he played in only six games.

"It's extremely frustrating because in my mind and my heart, I'm still very battle- ready,'' Colon said. "I love the guys that I play with and I really love the direction this team is headed, in the big scheme of things. So to not be the guy that's pulling the anchor is tough on me.''

Colon, who signed a one-year, $950,000 contract in March, hopes this isn't the end. He said he has no plans for surgery and will rely on rehab.

"It's all about taking it slow,'' he said, "and being patient with the situation and myself.

"The toughest part is I want to be out there with Nick [Mangold] and [D'Brickashaw Ferguson] and those guys. We're all 10-year guys and obviously there's not a lot of juice left in us, so you want to give it all you got every chance you get. When you're not able to do that, it's frustrating.''

Colon had been hampered by knee issues all season and sprained an MCL in Week 3. He started in every game of his first two seasons with the Jets since signing in 2013.

"We're going to miss him,'' Ferguson said. "He's a veteran that's always been able to back up his words with his play.''

Colon's replacement on the offensive line is Brian Winters, a third-round draft pick of the Jets in 2013.

"He's been a role model for me,'' Winters said. "He taught me how to play the game when I first came in as a rookie.''

For Colon, an alumnus of Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx and Hofstra, playing for his hometown team is special because of days like Tuesday. His charity event, in which he donated more than 150 turkeys to those in need, appeared more like a family reunion.

"Lot of hugs, lot of squeezing on my cheeks,'' Colon said. "They still see me as the chubby little kid running around the neighborhood, but now they're wearing my jersey. I appreciate it. I'm humbled by it.''