FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers was fresh off his second offseason practice.
He was fresh off hitting receiver Xavier Gipson 30 yards downfield during 11-on-11 play, threading still another diving touchdown to Garrett Wilson in red-zone work later.
The 40-year-old quarterback was not hampered by medical restrictions in the New York Jets’ second OTA practice on Tuesday, head coach Robert Saleh said. But that doesn’t mean he views the task ahead as smooth sailing.
Eighth months removed from tearing his Achilles on the fourth play of his Jets career, Rodgers sees his 2024 season brings with it high stakes — for his season, for his legacy and for his coaches’ job security.
“As you get older in the league, if you don’t perform, they’re going to get rid of you or bring in the next guy to take over,” Rodgers said. “It happened in Green Bay, and I’m a few years older than I was back then.
“I think if I don’t do what I know I’m capable of doing, we’re all probably gonna be out of here. I like that kind of pressure, though.”
The Jets traded for the 10-time Pro Bowler ahead of the 2023 offseason. Rodgers was coming off a down statistical season by his standards, completing 64.6% of passes for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns and 12 interceptions during the Packers’ 8-9 campaign in 2022.
But Rodgers is not long removed from winning league MVP honors with 37 touchdowns to four interceptions in 2021, a defense of his 2020 MVP award in a 48-to-5 year.
The Jets struggled mightily in his absence last year, their top-3 defense hampered by the 31st-ranked offense. Reports circulated that the Jets looked this offseason to replace offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, a close friend of Rodgers’, as play caller.
Saleh confirmed Tuesday that Hackett will call plays in 2024.
“It’s about building an offense that can weather the storm of injury, right?” Saleh said. “Last year we got kind of caught behind the eight ball with preparing.”
The Jets had depended far…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/aaron-rodgers-discusses-high-stakes-for-jets-season–and-what-running-with-rfk-jr-would-have-meant-235747308.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-05-21 23:57:47
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