There are always various opinions about Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Some television pundits believe that with Rodgers back from a season-ending Achilles injury, the Jets are Super Bowl contenders. Then there are the naysayers and pessimists who say that at 40 years old, Rodgers’ best days are behind him.
Rogers said on ESPN New York’s Bart and Hahn show on Monday that both sides motivate him.
“The goal is to play all 17 regular-season games first and foremost whether you’re 21 or 40,” Rodgers said. “Obviously, it’s a little bit easier at 21. The best ability you can have is availability, so I want to be out there for all 17 regular-season weeks and if I feel like I am with the type of team that we have, we are going to be in really good shape in December and early January.
“Obviously, they’re other goals and motivations. You draw from certain sources. The best players are self motivated, they don’t need that motivation from somebody else. We have inspiration from some of those comments or people fighting back against father time.
“But you have to be self-motivated to last in this league, and I have enough motivation without any other comments that are said out there.”
Monday’s practice won’t do anything to change the mind of his cynics. Rodgers and the Jets offense had the worst practice of training camp after he completed 10 of 26 passes and threw an interception to Tony Adams, which ended the day.
Gang Green’s offense was out of sync, and during one stretch, Rodgers missed six of his seven passes. Jets defensive end Will McDonald also pressured him several times, and the offense committed a false start.
“Took the guys a little bit to get going, but still thought it was a good competitive practice,” Jets head coach Robert Saleh said about the offense. “Guys were communicating. They’re executing the way we need them to, but legs are a little heavy.”
Saleh still has yet to decide if Rodgers and any Jets starters will participate in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Giants. To this point, center Joe Tippmann is the only starting offensive player who has played any preseason snaps. Tippmann did not play in last Saturday’s game against the Panthers, but he did start in the first preseason game against the Commanders after previously having high snap issues during practices.
Since the NFL went to a three-game preseason schedule in 2021, many teams have opted to rest their starters or play them sparingly. Last year, Rodgers played two series in the final preseason game against the Giants.
The Jets will host a joint practice against the Giants on Wednesday.
“We haven’t talked about it yet,” Saleh said. “We’ll reevaluate everything after the practice on Wednesday and come up with a decision.”
WR WILLIAMS TO BEGIN TEAM DRILLS
After starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list, the Jets slowly brought wide receiver Mike Williams along. Now, the 29-year-old is getting closer to returning to the field.
Williams told reporters on Monday he will begin participating in team drills as early as next week.
“I’m good,” Williams said. “Now it is just repetition, getting the reps in. Running many routes and seeing how everything responds and keep doing that.
The Jets activated Williams off the PUP list on Aug. 7. He is still working his way back from an ACL tear he suffered in Week 3 last season as a member of the Chargers. The Jets signed Williams to a one-year contract during the offseason, hoping he would improve the offense and take pressure off top receiver Garrett Wilson.
Since being activated from the PUP list, Williams has been participating only in individual practice drills, which consist of route running and blocking.
“I wouldn’t, I really, I wouldn’t be doing it if I thought I wasn’t ready,” Williams said. I think I put in enough work to do that to make the progress to go on to that next transition.”
During his seven seasons in the NFL, Williams has registered 309 catches, 4,806 yards, and 31 touchdowns. Williams believes he will be “another playmaker” who can make plays outside the numbers and add an extra element to the Jets’ offense.
“Obviously coming over here, you got Garrett, everybody know he’s one of the top receivers in this league,” Wilson said. “So obviously I’m going to get some opportunities coming my way also if guys want to double him or however so they play it.
“I’m ready for any situation, proving that I can do a lot of different things.”