New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh speaks during a post-game news conference following an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The Dolphins defeated the Jets 11-6. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Report shares what NFL thinks of Jets’ Aaron Rodgers coming off Achilles injury
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers turns 41 years old this December and understandably hasn’t yet reclaimed his best form this season coming off the torn Achilles he suffered four offensive plays into New York’s Week 1 game last September.
For a piece published Wednesday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano asked individuals around the league what they noticed about Rodgers over his first two starts of the ongoing campaign.
“More of a point guard distributing at this stage,” one unnamed veteran AFC personnel man said about Rodgers. “Not the magician he used to be.”
Rodgers looked rusty in the season-opening 32-19 loss at the San Francisco 49ers back on Sept. 9 and then completed 18-of-30 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns in this past Sunday’s 24-17 win at the Tennessee Titans. However, Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports pointed out that Rodgers connected on only three passes of more than nine air yards versus Tennessee.
On Tuesday, Rodgers acknowledged he’d like the offense “to start faster” during games beginning with Thursday’s prime-time home matchup against the 1-1 New England Patriots. According to ESPN stats, he heads into that contest ranked 18th in the NFL among qualified players with a 47.8 adjusted QBR, 23rd with a 60.8 completion percentage and 25th with 343 passing yards on the season. He tossed three touchdown passes and a single interception over his first two starts.
