There is great uncertainty about Aaron Rodgers’ future with the New York Jets, but for now no one can doubt his commitment.
Playing the day before his 41st birthday with his team’s postseason hopes hanging by a thread, Rodgers arrived at MetLife to perform against the Seattle Seahawks.
And judging by the first quarter, Rodgers was ready to take it a step further – and not just with this throw. He put himself in the line of fire and risked injuring himself in a striking moment early in the match.
With the score 0-0 and just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter, Rodgers threw the ball to Malachi Corley before following his run and risking injury by throwing a huge block on Josh Jobe to protect his teammate .
Replays show Jobe and Rodgers’ helmets colliding with a huge thud, but the Jets quarterback took it in stride and even seemed to have a few words for Jobe in the aftermath.
Moments later, Rodgers picked off his old friend Davante Adams for a touchdown as the Jets took the lead, but it was the quarterback’s earlier play that left Jets fans stunned.
Aaron Rodgers stunned Jets fans by throwing a block in the opening moments of Jets vs Seahawks
“Suddenly Rodgers is playing like he’s 25 years old,” one fan wrote, while another simply said, “Aaron Rodgers the lead blocker?!”
Even one disgruntled Jets fan was impressed, writing, “I’m so excited about this team, but I appreciate Aaron Rodgers showing he at least gives a little s*** on that block.”
Another version read: “We’re getting a different Aaron Rodgers today… This guy is out here leading the way and blocking… I LOVE IT.”
Another fan said: ‘Aaron Rodgers is going to block for a 3-8 disaster of a team, I respect that 100%.’
However, there was understandably some warning from some fans. One responded to the official Jets feed about the play by saying, “But it’s not a good idea to do that again. Are the coaches trying to injure him?’
Moments after Adams got the Jets on the board, Isaiah Davies scored his team’s second touchdown of the day, giving them a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
But from that point on, the Jets imploded, losing 26-21 in a result that all but ended their postseason hopes.