The New York Jets, eager to end a playoff drought older than some of their fans, are pinning their hopes on a healthy Aaron Rodgers to lead them into January football this season.
Rodgers, a future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, orchestrated a trade to the Jets with the intention of continuing his pursuit of a Super Bowl after a highly successful individual career with the Green Bay Packers.
However, the Rodgers trade has not gone as planned for either the player or the Jets.
While the Packers have transitioned to Jordan Love and seem set to compete at a high level for the foreseeable future, Rodgers played only four snaps in the 2023 season before suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon injury.
Since then, he has dabbled in conspiracy theories and flirted with joining presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s ticket. Additionally, Rodgers upset head coach Robert Saleh with an “unexcused” trip to Egypt last month.
The “unexcused” comment by Saleh reportedly irritated Rodgers, according to a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. Rodgers confronted Saleh over the remark, claiming he had informed Saleh that he would be out of the country during the week of June 10.
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The entire organization was allegedly aware that Rodgers would be absent that week, which included minicamp sessions, leading to questions about the miscommunication.
Despite the friction, Russini reports that Jets sources insist “everything is great now” between the coach and his quarterback. However, this assurance does little to quell concerns that the situation could become one of the NFL’s most volatile, especially if the Jets struggle early in the 2024 season.
The Jets are determined to break their 13-year postseason drought, but that goal hinges on Rodgers being both healthy and fully committed. In addition to negotiating a contract extension for star defensive end Haason Reddick, the Jets must prioritize mending the relationship between Rodgers and Saleh.
Failure to do so could lead to an early-season coaching change, which typically signals impending disaster.
With the stakes high and the spotlight on Rodgers, the Jets’ ability to manage internal dynamics and external pressures will be crucial in their quest to return to playoff contention.