As another winnable game slipped through his fingers, Aaron Rodgers sat thoughtfully. on the New York Jets bench Monday night looking like he was contemplating life.
He didn’t seem to like what he saw.
His Jets were about to be losers again (23-20 against Buffalo) and thus fall to 2-4 on the season. The coach, Robert Saleh, had already been fired. They had already changed those calling the shots. They had already talked about renewed efforts and concentration.
And yet, little had changed.
The lights were bright inside MetLife Stadium, but it looked like one of Rodgers’ famous dark retreats; his face conveyed more regret than resolution.
And so it should come as no surprise that on Tuesday morning the Jets pulled the trigger on bringing in one of Rodgers’ all-time favorite wide receivers, reportedly acquiring Devonte Adams from Las Vegas in exchange for a conditional third-round pick. round.
The move reunites the quarterback and receiver: they played together for eight seasons (2014-2021) in Green Bay. They combined for 622 receptions, 7,590 yards and 69 touchdowns in the regular season.
Those were the glory days. Big scores and big wins. The Packers averaged 10 regular-season wins during that period and won six playoff games to advance to the NFC championship game on four different occasions.
Adams left for Las Vegas in 2022 and nothing worked out like it did with the Packers. After 14 touchdowns in his first season, he has only managed nine since. The Jets tried to trade for him last year, but the Raiders wouldn’t budge. After just one touchdown in three games this year, Adams requested a trade.
Meanwhile, Rodgers headed to the Jets in 2023 and there has been little more than injuries and disappointment. At 41 years old, there isn’t much time for lost seasons or slow rebuilds. New York brought in Rodgers to win now.
They are not winning.
Maybe a recovery will change everything. The Jets surely hope so. They are virtually out of options other than finally finding a way to get pass rusher Haason Reddick back into the fold. However, Reddick is more likely to be traded.
Team owner Woody Johnson stated that this team was the most talented in 25 years. He used that as justification for firing Saleh after a 2-3 start to the season. Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett (a reputed confidant of Rodgers) was demoted from calling plays.
However, instead of lighting a fire of inspiration under the roster, the Jets looked like the same mediocre team they always beat themselves on Monday.
There was a dropped touchdown. There were two field goal attempts that hit the posts and the crossbar. There were 11 penalties per 110 yards. New York converted just four of 12 third-down attempts and went 1-for-4 in the red zone.
Not even a converted Hail Mary at the end of the first half could save them.
Rodgers seemed surprised the game hadn’t turned out better.
“We need to get going,” Rodgers said Monday. “This was a golden opportunity. Some games are won in the NFL and others are given away. This was a gift.”
It was indicative of this whole Jets experiment for Rodgers. It began with much fanfare and expectations of a potential late-career championship push, in the spirit of Peyton Manning in Denver and Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.
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Instead, New York faces a stretch this month that includes games at Pittsburgh (4-2) and then hosting Houston (5-1).
“It’s frustrating,” Rodgers said. “I’m here to win (these) games.”
The season is not over, but it is going in that direction. Hence the franchise pulling all the emergency cables it can at the beginning of the season.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is the interim coach and Todd Downing calls the plays. So now everything depends on the players.
Adams gives Rodgers a familiar face and weapon and bolsters a receiving corps that already features Garrett Wilson. The offense wasn’t bad on Monday: Rodgers threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns and Breece Hall ran for 113 yards and added 56 receptions.
Although it still wasn’t enough. And for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that It’s not enough.
The third-round pick (which could become a second if it works out) is a significant but not daunting price. What other options were there for the Jets? Rodgers is by far their most successful quarterback in decades and this was a complete season.
Might as well make the most of it while something can still be done.
