Aaron Rodgers’ time with the New York Jets might proceed past this season, regardless of many losses and disappointments.
The star quarterback, who turns 41 on Dec. 2, beforehand stated he wish to play a number of extra years. And he insisted Wednesday that the Jets’ 3-7 begin throughout a tumultuous season hasn’t modified that place.
“Not actually,” Rodgers stated within the locker room after apply. “Not on the unhealthy aspect, no. Not actually.”
Rodgers was then requested by a reporter if he nonetheless wished to play subsequent yr.
“I believe so, sure,” the four-time NFL MVP stated with a nod.
Rodgers’ future past this season has been in query in current weeks, largely as a consequence of his mediocre play throughout the worst begin to 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 will rely $23.5 million towards the wage cap subsequent season. But if the Jets minimize Rodgers earlier than June 1 subsequent yr, they’d incur a $49 million cost; that will be $14 million after June 1.
He had a sluggish 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 wins over New England in Week 3 and Houston in Week 9, however he adopted that efficiency towards the Texans with a catastrophe in A Defeated 31-6 TO Arizona. He was 22 of 35 for simply 151 yards, finishing just one cross by way of the air of 10 yards or extra.
Rodgers additionally has handled ankle, knee and hamstring points which have visibly sapped a few of the mobility that made him a risk as a younger quarterback.
“I imply, I’m not taking part in in addition to I would love, that is for positive,” he stated. “The fantastic thing about this recreation is that it is a workforce recreation. The irritating half is that for those who’re an ideal competitor, you maintain your self to an ordinary and it is not unrealistic.
“And I did not meet that commonplace this yr.”
When Rodgers was traded to the Jets in April 2023, Super Bowl aspirations and expectations adopted. His damage early within the season ended these hopes final yr, however optimism returned this previous offseason and coaching camp.
A 2-3 begin led to Robert Saleh being fired by proprietor Woody Johnson and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich taking on on an interim foundation. Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, a pal of Rodgers from their time collectively in Green Bay, was demoted to main play caller with passing recreation coordinator Todd Downing taking on these duties. The Jets additionally traded for a large receiver final month Davante Adams, Rodgers’ teammate for eight seasons with the Packers.
However, the workforce has struggled, going 1-4 beneath Ulbrich heading into Sunday’s recreation towards Indianapolis. The “spark” that Johnson believed could be brought on by Saleh’s sacking didn’t translate into improved play on the pitch.
“I believe you are it in strictly binary phrases of wins and losses,” Rodgers stated. “What Brick has accomplished, the way in which we coach, I really feel like there’s been some nice modifications. I really feel like he is accomplished some actually good issues. I believe Brick is an NFL head coach, whether or not it is shifting ahead or in future. I imply, he’s a pacesetter of males and I’ll stand by him.
“I wish to play for him till the tip. So I’ve a number of love and respect for him.”
Rodgers reiterated that Saleh’s sacking was robust on everybody “as a result of all of us love Robert”, nevertheless it was not the gamers’ choice. And Rodgers thinks everybody dealt with adversity properly.
“And Brick has accomplished a extremely good job of looking for methods to encourage the children to maintain it collectively,” he stated. “Because this might have gone badly, and I’m not simply speaking about wins and losses – personality-wise, cohesiveness, requirements so far as guys splitting up and breaking away.”
Rodgers preached “hope” to Jets followers and stated something might occur within the remaining seven video games.
However, he acknowledged that he hasn’t been the dynamic playmaker the Jets hoped he could be.
“Health clearly has been an enormous problem for me,” Rodgers stated when requested to weigh in on what have been essentially the most difficult points since arriving in New York. “The different elements, there’s intangibles, for positive. There’s guys that you understand that you do not know. You know, you’ve got by no means been round. There’s clearly (the) system, making an attempt to get on the identical web page. And there they’re personalities you must get to know. You be taught which you could push sure guys and you must caress them. That’s a part of the method.
“It’s been a extremely good couple of years for me total. But clearly it has been irritating from a soccer perspective.”
Associated Press reporting.
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