Aaron Rodgers #8 (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
After the New York Jets 23-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Jets wasted no time in taking another step in becoming the Packers East. Tuesday, they sent a conditional draft pick to the Raiders for standout WR and Aaron Rodgers favorite, Davante Adams. The Packers needed another WR after Rodgers threw Jets’ WR, Mike Williams under the bus after Williams reportedly ran the wrong route on a Rodgers interception.
Hopefully being thrown under the bus won’t result in Williams having to spend some time on the IR.
The Jets’ record dropped to 2-4 having lost their last two games after Rodgers threw a late interception in each game.
A quick appraisal of Rodgers’ play in 2024
So far in 2024, Aaron Rodgers has looked pretty good, but not great. His QB rating for 2024 is 84.4. For context, his career mark is 104.4. While 84.4 is pretty good compared to what the Jets are used to, it’s not vintage Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers is still a very good thrower of the football, as evidenced by Monday night’s Hail Mary, and other excellent throws. However, he doesn’t seem quite what he was.
Based on the eye test, Aaron Rodgers sometimes looks like a guy who is 40 years old. A 40-year-old guy who is in good shape, but still a 40-year-old guy. Rodgers was sacked three times, not counting one that was waived off by a questionable roughing the passer penalty.
And he looked like he felt them. Aaron is just not as nimble in the pocket as he once was, which was understandable.
The Jets are all in for Rodgers and the 2024 season
After the Jets’ 23-17 loss to the Vikings, the Jets fired head coach, Robert Saleh and named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as interim head coach. Offensive coordinator, Nathaniel Hackett, was removed from play calling duties, and Todd Downing assumed the role. That’s great, Hackett calling for Rodgers to throw interceptions was a really bad idea.
How much Rodgers had to do with those changes is debatable, but it’s hard to imagine those changes being without Rodgers signing off on them. After all, Rodgers’ fingerprints seem to be all over every move the Jets make.
After signing Aaron Rodgers, the Jets also added a couple of his Green Bay targets in Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard in 2023. They’ve added to that collection with Devante Adams. I’m not sure when to expect Donald Driver.
What does it mean for the Jets going forward?
First of all, Garrett Wilson will probably get fewer targets. It will be interesting to see how Wilson and Adams react if they feel they aren’t getting targeted enough. In addition, how will the defense react to the firing off the head coach? Robert Saleh was a defensive-oriented guy, and the team looked sloppy in a penalty-filled game. That could just be the result of a chaotic week, but it will be something to watch going forward.
The Jets have definitely hitched their wagon to Rodgers, the question is where he is going. Right now, he seems to be going Back to the Future.
Didn’t the Jets used to have another high-profile QB who starred in Green Bay before coming to New York? How did that turn out?
