MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Two of the Jets' defensive leaders may not be the best at leading by example.

A source with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media defensive ends Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson are regularly late or miss team meetings. The source added it happens "all the time," and "definitely" more often than other players on the team.

It is unclear if this was the reason why Richardson and Wilkerson were benched for the first quarter of the Jets' loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. After the game, coach Todd Bowles wouldn't say anything more than it was a "coach's decision," and would not say if it was for disciplinary reasons.

The Dolphins scored a touchdown on the only complete drive Richardson and Wilkerson missed.

Richardson had never been benched for disciplinary reasons since being drafted by the Jets in 2013. But Wilkerson, who signed a five-year contract extension for $86 million this offseason, has gotten in trouble for being late to team meetings before. Last season, he was benched and fined for the first quarter against the Giants as a result.

The 2016 season hasn't been the kindest to the Jets. The team has fallen apart during a 3-6 start. The offense, low-lighted by Ryan Fitzpatrick's league-high 13 interceptions, can't get out of its own way. The defense, meanwhile, has an abundance of issues.

The unit has allowed nine plays of 40-plus yards, the secondary six of nine quarterbacks to finish with a rating of 100, and outside of Leonard Williams, the defensive front has been largely invisible.

Wilkerson, who had 12 sacks a season ago, has 2.5 sacks this year. Richardson has just 1.5.

After the loss to the Dolphins, Wilkerson left without speaking to the media. Defensive end Sheldon Richardson talked briefly to a small group of reporters. When asked about why he wasn't playing, he said "that was the starting lineup and that's where I was."

Representatives from Wilkerson and the Jets did not have comment. A representative from Richardson did not return contact.

Connor Hughes may be reached at chughes@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connor_J_Hughes. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.