Aaron Rodgers has spoken out about his awkward sideline exchange with Robert Saleh, insisting he didn’t expect his New York Jets head coach to come over and hug him.
The quarterback was in sparkling form in his first return to MetLife since tearing his Achilles tendon, but a hugely positive night took a tense turn late in the first quarter.
Returning to the sideline after throwing his first home touchdown with the Jets, head coach Saleh reached out for a hug but was pushed away by his veteran quarterback.
Explaining the situation to reporters after the game, Rodgers said: “It wasn’t awkward at all. He’s not a big hugger, usually, I didn’t know he was doing that. He likes to have his chest pushed on with two hands.”
“He talks a lot about two-score advantages, so I nudged him and said two-score advantages.”
Aaron Rodgers and Robert Saleh had a seemingly tense moment during the Patriots game
Rodgers gave Saleh a slight shove and stared at him for a couple of seconds, later saying the moment was “not awkward at all.”
Saleh also laughed off any talk of a rift between the two, saying after the game: ‘Part of the things we’ve been talking about is giving the defense a two-score lead.
‘It wasn’t a two-point lead, so I wanted to see something on defense.’
On social media, fans came to Rodgers’ defense and praised his attitude, insisting it is exactly what the Jets need as they aim for the Super Bowl.
One wrote: “I get it. The game isn’t won yet and Saleh wants a hug. This is the Kobe mentality this team needs.”
The Jets are now 2-1 for the first time since 2015, and will face the Denver Broncos as they look to continue their winning streak.
Rodgers explained his side of the story on the podium with reporters after the win.
Opposing quarterback Jacoby Brissett received a hug on the field after the Jets’ big win.
Rodgers and company lost on the road to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1, but have since rebounded with wins over the Titans and Patriots.
Rodgers himself was in imperious form, throwing two more touchdowns in his best performance so far in the green jersey of the Jets.
He completed 27 of his 35 pass attempts, a much higher completion percentage than Weeks 1 and 2, and left the game with an 81.8 percent QBR.
Rodgers now has five touchdown passes on the season, the most among QBs in the league, although he has played one more game.