The only notable moment we have of Aaron Rodgers in a New York Jets uniform came in the preseason, on a nice touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson.
It certainly didn’t happen in the regular season, when Rodgers lasted just four snaps before tearing his left Achilles tendon. He missed the rest of the season.
Rodgers could also miss this preseason. Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Rodgers Did not play in the first two preseason games and will discuss whether he will play in the third and final game. The Jets could decide to give him some opportunities in that game, but it appears Saleh’s preference is for him not to play until the start of the regular season on Sept. 9 in Santa Clara, California.
“My gut tells me no, but I want to leave it open,” Saleh told New York media. “Game 3 is what we’re going to decide.”
That would mean we’ll have to wait a little longer for Rodgers’ next big moment, after a brief tease last preseason. Rodgers played in one preseason game, completing 5 of 8 passes for 48 yards, including the touchdown to Wilson.
Rodgers has yet to complete a regular-season pass for the Jets, so the decision about whether he’ll play this preseason is an interesting one. The Jets don’t want to expose Rodgers in a game that doesn’t count after what happened last season. But it’s also a bit of a gamble for Rodgers to take his first snaps since last September against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Rodgers hasn’t completed a pass in a game that counts since Jan. 8, 2023. Then again, maybe a few snaps in the preseason won’t matter all that much for a four-time MVP.
We’ll see if Rodgers can or even wants to earn a spot in the lineup for the final preseason game. If not, his first regular-season game in 2024 becomes an even bigger curiosity.