Aaron Rodgers’ stint with the New York Jets may nonetheless lengthen past this season — regardless of loads of losses and disappointments.
The star quarterback, who’ll flip 41 on Dec. 2, beforehand mentioned he’d wish to play a number of extra years. And he insisted Wednesday that the Jets’ 3-7 begin throughout a tumultuous season has not modified that stance.
“Not likely,” Rodgers mentioned within the locker room after apply. “Not for the unfavorable, no. Not likely.”
Rodgers was then requested by a reporter if he nonetheless desires to play subsequent yr.
“I believe so, yeah,” the four-time NFL MVP mentioned whereas nodding.
Rodgers’ future past this season has come into query in current weeks, significantly due to his mediocre play through the worst begin of his 20-year profession.
He has one yr left on his contract that features $2.5 million in non-guaranteed base wage with $21 million in bonuses. He would depend $23.5 million in opposition to the wage cap subsequent season. But when the Jets minimize Rodgers earlier than June 1 subsequent yr, they’d incur a $49 million useless cash cost; it could be $14 million after June 1.
He bought off to a gradual begin in his return from a torn left Achilles tendon that sidelined him for all however 4 snaps final season. Rodgers confirmed some flashes of the participant he was in his prime, together with in victories over New England in Week 3 and Houston in Week 9, however he adopted that efficiency in opposition to the Texans with a dud in a 31-6 loss to Arizona. He was 22 of 35 for simply 151 yards, finishing only one go by the air of 10 yards or longer.
Rodgers has additionally handled ankle, knee and hamstring points which have visibly sapped him of a few of the mobility that helped make him such a risk as a younger quarterback.
“I imply, I am not enjoying in addition to I want to play, for positive,” he mentioned. “The sweetness on this recreation is it is a workforce recreation. The irritating half is that for those who’re a fantastic competitor, you maintain your self to a regular and it is not unrealistic.
“And I have never reached that commonplace this yr.”
When Rodgers was traded to the Jets in April 2023, Tremendous Bowl aspirations — and expectations — adopted. His harm within the season opener ended these hopes final yr, however the optimism was again throughout this previous offseason and coaching camp.
A 2-3 begin bought Robert Saleh fired by proprietor Woody Johnson and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich took over on an interim foundation. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, Rodgers’ buddy from their days collectively in Inexperienced Bay, was demoted as the first play caller with passing recreation coordinator Todd Downing assuming these duties. The Jets additionally traded final month for broad receiver Davante Adams, who was Rodgers’ teammate for eight seasons with the Packers.
Nonetheless, the workforce has struggled, going 1-4 beneath Ulbrich heading into its recreation Sunday in opposition to Indianapolis. The “spark” Johnson believed can be brought on by firing Saleh has not translated into higher play on the sphere.
“I believe that you are looking at it in strictly binary wins and losses phrases,” Rodgers mentioned. “What Brick’s performed, the way in which that we apply, I really feel like there was nice adjustments. I really feel like he is performed some actually good issues. I believe Brick is an NFL head coach, whether or not it is right here shifting ahead or down the road. I imply, he’s a pacesetter of males and I will stand by him.
“I would like to play for him till the tip. So I’ve plenty of love and respect for him.”
Rodgers reiterated Saleh’s firing was powerful for everybody “as a result of all of us love Robert,” however it was not the gamers’ choice. And Rodgers thinks everybody has dealt with the adversity effectively.
“And Brick’s performed a extremely good job of looking for methods to encourage the blokes to maintain them collectively,” he mentioned. “As a result of this might have gone south, and I am not simply speaking about wins and losses — from a persona, cohesion, commonplace so far as guys simply type of splintering and breaking off.”
Rodgers preached “hope” to Jets followers and mentioned something may occur over the ultimate seven video games.
Nonetheless, he acknowledged he hasn’t been the dynamic playmaker the Jets hoped he’d be.
“Well being clearly has been an enormous problem for me,” Rodgers mentioned when requested to evaluate what the hardest facets have been since coming to New York. “The opposite components, there’s intangible issues, for positive. There’s guys that you simply get to know that you do not know. , you have not been round. There’s clearly (the) system, making an attempt to get on the identical web page. And there is personalities that you have to get to know. You be taught you may push sure guys and you have to pat sure guys. That is a part of the method.
“It has been truly a extremely lovely couple of years for me in totality. Nevertheless it’s clearly been irritating with the soccer half.”
Reporting by The Related Press.
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