Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made his debut for the New York Jets on Saturday night, appearing in a pre-season game for the first time since 2018. He played two series with the first-team offence before head coach Robert Saleh sat his starters against the New York Giants.
Saleh explained his decision to put the 39-year-old in harm’s way during an exhibition as a gesture of fearlessness. It didn’t come back to bite him, as Rodgers went 5-for-8 passing for 47 yards and a touchdown.
“You can’t coach scared, you can’t play scared,” Saleh said earlier this week. “You can slip out of your car and have something happen to you, but knock on wood, everyone will be fine. You know you see some of the great ones out there.
"Kansas City’s playing their guys, Buffalo’s playing their guys, it’s not uncommon. You could always play the hindsight game or the fearful game, but what’s in the best interest for our team is to go out there and play some football together and prepare ourselves the best way we can for September 11th.”
Here are some immediate reactions to Rodgers’ brief performance, including his sweet touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson.
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Chemistry with receivers
Rodgers targeted Garrett Wilson most often (three times), followed by a target apiece for Mecole Hardman Jr., Tyler Conklin and C.J. Uzomah.
The highlight of the night was Rodgers’ touch pass over Wilson’s back shoulder for a touchdown. He completed that rhythm throw countless times with the Green Bay Packers to Davante Adams and Jordy Nelson. His chemistry with his new top receiver, the reigning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, is developing fast.
Line management
The veteran quarterback is renowned for drawing NFL defences offside with snap count trickery. In Green Bay, he was also adept at orchestrating pre-snap adjustments, including motion across the formation.
Rodgers’ first snap with the Jets illustrated some of the simple things he does well. He called for a quick pass to Wilson, who caught the ball near the sideline and ran ahead for an easy 10-yard gain. It was all quick hitters on the opening drive, with an illegal block penalty stalling the possession.
Aaron Rodgers went 5-of-8 passing in his New York Jets debut. (Getty Images)Settling in at MetLife
One of the reasons Saleh put Rodgers on the field Saturday was to get him comfortable in his new digs. Rodgers had spent his entire NFL career calling Lambeau Field home. While one figures a future Hall of Fame quarterback can acclimate anywhere, he received a taste of MetLife Stadium cheering for him before the games count.
Rodgers arrived with a casual look — a tight-fitting V-neck, backpack and sunglasses — and was all smiles warming up before the game as fans who came early specifically to see him lapped up each throw. They roared when he entered the field for his opening drive.
“Even though he’s been in the league for 19 years, he’s going into a new stadium, he’s got new colours on, he’s got new teammates, new play caller, everything’s new,” Saleh said. “It’s not so much about him, but everybody else around him hearing him for the first time, feeling him in a game-like setting, feeling his cadence, feeling his demeanour in the huddle, feeling him at the line of scrimmage, and so as much as it is for him, it’s even more so for the guys around him, so they can feel the tempo that he wants in and out of the huddle and we can make the adjustments off of it.
“Rather than waiting until Week 1 and then making the adjustments after that, well, let’s see what it feels like now and make the adjustments we need so we can get better for Week 1 and then make more adjustments and so on and so forth.”
Minimal hits taken
Rodgers’ array of quick, short passes Saturday was likely a tactic to keep the New York Giants pass rush from hitting him and potentially causing an injury. A defender tripped him as he rolled out of the pocket on a third-and-12, but he managed to throw the ball away before he hit the ground. It wasn’t a hard fall.
He did look slower than in past years when trying to make his trademark manoeuvres with the pocket breaking down, however, that was to be expected at his age.
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