FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Muhammad Wilkerson's future with the New York Jets could be resolved on Wednesday.

Coach Todd Bowles' noncommittal comments Monday indicated the team is mulling the idea of sitting him down for the last two games or cutting him loose. Let's examine the Jets' options:

It's likely the Jets will deactivate Muhammad Wilkerson for the final two games of the season. William Hauser/USA TODAY Sports

1. Welcome him back: This wouldn't be a financially prudent decision. Wilkerson's 2018 salary ($16.8 million) is guaranteed for injury, meaning the Jets could be on the hook if he were to suffer a serious injury in these final two games. They don't want to be on the hook for anything because they're expected to release him before the third day of the league year in March, when his salary becomes fully guaranteed if he's on the roster. They've paid him nearly $37 million for the last two seasons; they don't want to pay him a dollar more than they have to.

2. Deactivate him for the final two games: This is the most likely scenario. Bowles can call it a "coach's decision" based upon the recent disciplinary issues with Wilkerson, who showed up late for a meeting last Friday and was promptly benched for the game in New Orleans. Two weeks earlier, he was benched for a quarter for the same reason. Bowles is fed up and could tell Wilkerson to stay home in what would amount to a paid vacation -- $1.7 million for two weeks. This would eliminate the injury risk. One of the most celebrated examples of this type of punishment occurred in 2005 with the Philadelphia Eagles and Terrell Owens.

3. Cut him: They wouldn't save any money -- his last two game checks are fully guaranteed -- but it would be a powerful statement. The salary-cap ramifications would be the same as if they waited until February, meaning they'd save $11 million on the '18 cap and would get stuck with a $9 million "dead" charge. The downside to cutting him now: They wouldn't have the option of using the June 1 designation that would allow them to spread the cap hit over 2018 and 2019. Because the Jets have a vast amount of cap space in 2018, the June 1 factor isn't viewed as significant. Wilkerson probably wouldn't mind getting a pink slip now because he'd be free to sign with a contender after clearing waivers.

4. Suspend him without pay: They could call it conduct detrimental to the team, but it's a hard-line approach that likely wouldn't pass the smell test from the NFL Players' Association.