07 November 2023 , 14:54
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Aaron Rodgers is racing against time to return before the end of the season, but a hopeless performance from the New York Jets followed by a scathing assessment from NFL legend Troy Aikman could give him pause for thought.
The Jets offense mustered an inept showing in a 27-6 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night, with three turnovers and a slew of clumsy penalties combining for a miserable evening for Robert Saleh's team. "Gang Green" fell to 4-4 on the season, suffering a big blow in their pursuit of a playoff place.
Future Hall of Fame quarterback Rodgers was the star acquisition of the offseason, but his debut lasted just four plays as he suffered a ruptured Achilles on the opening weekend of the campaign. However, the 39-year-old has made remarkable progress in his recovery as he attempts to get back on the field in time for a playoff charge.
Rodgers has been seen throwing passes on the field before the Jets' past two games, and he appears on track to defy the medical consensus that his season was over. But there is a catch for the Jets: they must be in contention for a postseason berth to get Rodgers back on the field this season.
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And after Monday's mess, there are serious doubts over the Jets' playoff potential. Backup quarterback Zach Wilson continues to struggle badly, and ESPN analyst Troy Aikman believes they have offensive issues too big for Rodgers to solve alone, questioning not only the players but the coaching staff.
"I'll tell you where they have to start and that is these pre-snap penalties," Aikman said. "You can talk about the offensive line, the injuries they've had, we get it, and Rodgers isn't your quarterback, we get it.
"But if you can't even get lined up without getting a penalty then you've got no chance, you'll never have a chance. The focus is always Zach Wilson and the offensive line because of the injuries, but anyone who has anything to do with this offense, coaches included, they've got to look at themselves in the mirror because everybody has to be better.
Aikman (right) and broadcast partner Joe Buck met with Rodgers (left) before kick-off on Monday. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)"For as good as this group is, for them not to get a chance to do some really special things with this team because an offense can't score a touchdown? Pretty maddening."
The Jets travel to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 10 for a Sunday Night Football showdown before successive games against AFC East rivals in the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins. It has the makings of a crucial stretch for the Jets to prove their credentials as a playoff team, but it is clear Aikman – a three-time Super Bowl winner with the Dallas Cowboys – has little faith that they can get the job done.
"The Jets don't have a lot of time, they are running out of games to get this turned around," he added. "It's been like this all year long. For a league where it's built around offense, they've scored two touchdowns in a game one time and that was against Kansas City. The rest of them, they have scored one.
"The Jets, I don't know if they are a good football team. It's hard to look at them and say they are good. They're great on defense and I thought the defense was terrific again, but is that a good football team? No, I don't think so. I think they are a bad team with a great defense. I didn't see anything to suggest they are a playoff team.
"I know they had the win against Philadelphia and that was nice, but overall, I don't think this is a very good football team and they have got a long way to go if they are going to make it into the postseason, which I don't expect them to do."