When the Jets opted not to pick up their option on cornerback Dee Milliner’s contract for the 2017 season, it didn’t come as a surprise.
While there were high hopes for what Milliner would do when the Jets drafted him with the ninth overall pick of the 2013 draft, Milliner’s career has been highlighted by injuries rather than big plays on the field. He’s played in just 21 games over three seasons and didn’t play a down on defense last season after returning from a wrist injury in the second half of the year.
Milliner doesn’t turn 25 until September and is still trying to find a way to turn his career trajectory around. As part of that, he’s found a way to put a positive spin on his injury woes.
“It made me mentally tougher,” Milliner told Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. “You got to fight and get over it because it’s going to happen. It’s about how you’re going to come back from it. ... I’m always going to have confidence in myself and what I can do. You got to have that going into the game. You got to go in there and say I can guard him. Do my technique and do what I’m supposed to do, and I can control the play.”
Milliner didn’t do a great job of controlling play in the preseason opener as he gave up a long reception to Jaguars wideout Allen Robinson on one play and missed a tackle that led to another big gain for Jacksonville. Should he have better showings for the rest of the summer, a role behind Darrelle Revis and Buster Skrine could come his way but time’s running short for Milliner’s redemption song to start playing in Jersey.
