New York Jets team doctors have cleared Aaron Rodgers to take off for Monday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.
The quarterback participated fully Saturday after being limited Thursday and Friday due to a sprained ankle. Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich said earlier in the week that Rodgers also had a hamstring issue.
But Rodgers, 40, is fine to play after having his worst game with the Jets when he threw three interceptions in a loss to Minnesota in London last Sunday. The four-time NFL MVP’s leg was awkwardly twisted on a play, but he was able to remain in the game.
“He’s looking really good,” said Ulbrich, who is in his first week as interim head coach following the firing of Robert Saleh on Tuesday.
‘He’s a magician in terms of the work he puts into his body and all the (regeneration) and everything. He looks like Aaron, which is great, as we all know.
New York Jets team doctors have cleared Aaron Rodgers to take off on Monday night.
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8), right, reacts when he is tackled during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Ulbrich replaced the fired Robert Saleh on Tuesday and demoted offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett as play-caller. Todd Downing, passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, will run the offense against the Bills.
The defense will be without nickel cornerback Michael Carter II, who injured his back in pregame warmups last week and left the game early. Carter did not practice all week and was ruled out Saturday.
Linebacker CJ Mosley could return after missing the last three games with a toe injury. He is listed as questionable after being limited in practice all week.
“We’ve been making steady progress in terms of the reps he takes in practice,” Ulbrich said. “This week he’s felt better than he has in a long time, so we’re hopeful.”
Ulbrich also said defensive tackle Leki Fotu was “tended” to play after spending the first five games on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. His practice window opened last week, but the Jets did not activate him because they felt he needed a little more time.
Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is entering his first week as interim head coach.
Owner Woody Johnson surprisingly fired head coach Robert Saleh (pictured) on Tuesday
Linebacker Jamien Sherwood injured his hand in practice, but participated fully and was not on the final injury report.
Owner Woody Johnson surprisingly fired Saleh on Tuesday, disappointed with the direction his team seemed to be heading. With the 40-year-old Rodgers at quarterback, Johnson knows the Jets have a narrow window to try to win with him, so he made a change and installed Ulbrich as interim coach for the rest of the season.
“It’s been kind of a whirlwind, kind of a tornado,” Ulbrich said before holding his first practice Thursday. “But it’s exciting at the same time.”
Rodgers and the offense will have a different voice in charge after Ulbrich demoted Nathaniel Hackett and promoted passing game coordinator Todd Downing, also the Jets’ quarterbacks coach, to be the primary play-caller.
‘We’re passing the Bills. “It’s time,” said Ulbrich, who will continue to lead the Jets’ defense. ‘It’s time for us to get this thing going. Start playing the type of football we know we’re capable of doing. So now all our attention is “It focuses on the Buffalo Bills.”