Aaron Rodgers returned to the football field Monday night, one year after his infamous four-play New York Jets debut was cut short by a torn Achilles tendon.
The Jets quarterback showed glimpses of his old self in the 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The four-time NFL MVP tossed a handful of darts to wide receivers Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard. Rodgers’ best throw of the evening highlighted one of his favorite niches: Moments after he caught San Francisco defensive end Leonard Floyd offside, Rodgers delivered a 37-yard strike to Lazard in the end zone.
The 40-year-old quarterback identified his vertical route against single-high coverage and cashed in, and he held his follow-through motion for a moment in celebratory fashion. It marked his first touchdown completion since his final game with the Green Bay Packers on Jan. 8, 2023.
Rodgers finished 13-for-21 passing for 167 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
“I think there’s a lot there (offensively),” Rodgers told reporters after the game. “We weren’t very good on first or second down, and we missed opportunities. I’ve got to play better. We can’t turn the ball over twice, lose the turnover battle, and expect to win.”
Rodgers and the Jets won’t face many defenses built like the Niners this season. The reigning NFC champions boast All-Pro talent across all three levels.
Predictably, Rodgers wasn’t especially mobile coming off the Achilles injury. Extending plays is one of his trademark qualities, but Rodgers rarely escaped the pocket against the Niners. While New York’s offensive line maintained a pretty clean pocket – Rodgers was pressured on five of his 21 pass attempts – the offense stalled as Rodgers struggled when he did have to evade pressure. In some instances, Rodgers also appeared to lock onto his first read.
Despite being challenged by a potent defense, Rodgers still offered glimpses of greatness. Aside from capitalizing on the Niners’ pre-snap penalty, he also made successful checks at the line of scrimmage and ensured his offensive teammates were in the correct alignment.
Those qualities were evident on his first scoring drive when Rodgers completed 6 of 7 passes, with Wilson catching four for 46 yards. The Jets are banking on Wilson and running back Breece Hall to serve as Rodgers’ new Davante Adams and Aaron Jones – a duo that combined for 127 touchdowns with Rodgers as their signal-caller in Green Bay.
“I’m just so thankful to so many people who helped me to be able to come back,” Rodgers said. “People on the staff here, people back home … I was thinking about all those people before the game.
“It took a few plays for the nerves to subside. I finally took a (hit), which was nice. I thought the protection all night was great. We just didn’t run the ball. We were off in the run game. I missed two passes.”
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The Jets remain on the road Sunday at Tennessee and then have a Thursday home opener against the Patriots on Sept. 19. It’s a difficult schedule that doesn’t give Rodgers and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett much time to correct their early issues.
It’ll help if Rodgers has the full Jets roster at his disposal. Veteran wide receiver Mike Williams was limited to nine snaps with zero targets Monday evening as he returns from last season’s ACL injury. Once everybody is up to speed, it’ll be easier for Rodgers to identify his favorite matchups. But he still needs to display the ability to buy extra time when his protection breaks down.
The team also needs to shore up its run defense after 49ers backup running back Jordan Mason gashed the Jets for 147 yards. New York has assembled a quality roster that can compete in late January, but forcing Rodgers to play catchup every week isn’t optimal.
The Jets haven’t reached the playoffs since 2010, the same season Rodgers won his only Super Bowl title. It was refreshing to see moments of capable play under center for a team that cycled through four quarterbacks last season.
The Jets’ ultimate goal, however, depends on Rodgers, who’s chasing magic in the twilight of his storied career.
“There’s no better feeling than being back on the field for a game,” he said. “I’m just excited about the season. I love our guys. I think we’re going to bounce back and be just fine.”
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