Rex Ryan defends Muhammad Wilkerson hit

New York Jets coach Rex Ryan has expressed his belief that Muhammad Wilkerson's hit on Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker on Sunday was perfectly legal.

The defensive end hit Locker in the third quarter of the Jets' 38-13 defeat to the Titans, forcing the quarterback off the field and ruling him out for up to six weeks with a hip injury.

The NFL is reportedly considering fining Wilkerson for leading with his helmet despite the officials not flagging at the time, but Ryan believes that it was a clean hit and that there was no malice involved at all.

"Obviously, it was unfortunate. Clearly, in my opinion, I thought Muhammad did what you're supposed to do - lower your target," ESPN quotes Ryan as saying.

"He did that. Obviously, there wasn't a malicious intent on his part at all. In my opinion, I thought it was a clean hit."

Meanwhile, Ryan has also backed rookie quarterback Geno Smith to cut down on the amount of interceptions that he throws.