New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is now entering his second season with the team, after missing 2023 with a torn Achilles he suffered in Week 1.
If there’s one thing the Jets are already familiar with when it comes to Rodgers, it’s the constant headlines.
The future Hall-of-Famer left Green Bay on a sour note, having a reputation for being outspoken and attracting drama as his tenure with the Packers was coming to a close. In New York, headlines surrounding No. 8 started as early as training camp when the Jets were chosen to be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks.
Even when Rodgers was sidelined due to injury, the media couldn’t stop talking about him. He was recovering incredibly well from his Achilles tear, and he had the chance to come back toward the end of the regular season. However, when the Jets were eliminated from playoff contention, he was shut down.
This year, there was a new distraction for the team heading into minicamp. First, there was talk about Rodgers being vice president on Robert F. Kennedy’s shortlist in his presidential run. Then there was his unexpected and unexcused absence from the team’s mandatory minicamp earlier this month. Nevertheless, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the Jets are “willing to roll with it because he’s the key to everything.”
It’s important to note that although the media attention has followed Rodgers throughout his career, he’s generally had a positive tenure in New York thus far, despite the injury that ended his season just four snaps in.
Hard Knocks was able to capture Rodgers’ chemistry with star teammates Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner, as well as his mentorship toward Zach Wilson. Wilson was thrown back into the starting QB role after Rodgers’ injury and underperformed once again, resulting in him being traded to the Denver Broncos in April.
Another reason the Jets are right to roll with Rodgers is because, well, he really is the key to everything. New York is a playoff team and a potential Super Bowl contender when Rodgers is the guy under center. Even at 40, the oldest active player in the NFL entering this season, his impact cannot be denied.
The four-time MVP is set to start under a revamped offensive line. Incoming veterans Tyron Smith, Morgan Moses, and John Simpson, along with first-round OT Olu Fashanu will take over three of the five starting spots, with Fashanu likely to backup Smith at left tackle.
With a mix of young stars and experienced veterans, the Jets came in with the fourth-best roster according to PFF, with Aaron Rodgers being the obvious choice as the X-factor. Their 7-10 2023 season should tell you that they really are a quarterback away, and a fully healthy roster will be fun to watch in 2024.
New York opens the preseason against the Washington Commander on August 10, and the regular season on Monday Night Football against the reigning NFC-champion San Francisco 49ers, on September 9.
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