Aaron Rodgers Returns to New York Jets After ‘Unexcused Absence’: Where Was He?

Star New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to the United States after a long “unexcused absence.”

Head coach Robert Saleh deemed the star quarterback’s absence “unexcused” after he failed to show up for the team’s mandatory minicamp.

Where was New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers the whole time?

Former teammate of Aaron Rodgers, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, told longtime New York Jets fan and host of “The Herd” on FS1 Jason McIntyre that he and Rodgers worked out in the Los Angeles area Wednesday in an article from the New York Post.

“Me and Aaron have been great friends since I had been in Green Bay. I hit him up, told him I was coming out to LA, and said, ‘Let’s run some routes,’” Valdes-Scantling said.

“So we got it in. Went out to some high school and ran some routes together. We’re good. It was good.”

McIntyre responded, teasing that Rodgers was in Egypt the whole time.

McIntyre, a longtime Jets fan, responded, “All the New York media can stand down. Aaron Rodgers is back from Egypt! It’s not a secret anymore!”

New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers made strong statements about commitments to the team in the past

Rodgers, who only ended up playing four snaps for the Jets last season, made a powerful statement about other players’ commitment to the team after an unsuccessful 2023 season.

In an article from Pro Football Talk, Rodgers explained that winning is the most important thing and anyone doing anything that doesn’t have to do with winning needs to be reevaluated.

 “[a]nything that doesn’t have anything to do with winning needs to be assessed” and that “[i]t’s not a half the time thing, it’s not a sometimes thing, it’s not a most of the time thing, it’s an every time thing” and that “the bullshit that has nothing to do with winning needs to get out of the building,” Rodgers said.

This statement resurfaced when Rodgers was absent for the Jets’ mandatory minicamp. It was used to point to Rodgers’s hypocrisy and call into question his ability as the leader of a team.

Many fans were not happy with New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers

Many fans and former players, along with the notoriously difficult New York media, tore Aaron Rodgers to shreds for skipping the mandatory minicamp.

If Rodgers was able to stay healthy and lead the Jets to any amount of success last year, he might not be under so much scrutiny. But, his age and the fact that he is coming off of such a substantial injury makes his future ability as the QB of the Jets questionable.

Many New York Jets fans think he hasn’t done enough with the Jets to warrant taking time off in the way he did, and they let him and the Jets know that on social media.

Totally fine with Aaron Rodgers skipping minicamp.

Just don’t tell me he’s a leader or that football is his top priority: https://t.co/RH80xsBWH1

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) June 13, 2024

I don’t think he ever really was a leader

— 𝔸𝕤𝕙𝕞𝕒𝕟 (@fvckinashman) June 13, 2024

I’m sure everyone in the building is saying through gritted smiles “Gosh I’m sure glad this organization went ALL IN on him” while grabbing the armrests of their chairs in a death grip…

— TIm G. (@GoodheartTim) June 14, 2024

This is why I laugh when people mention him as the GOAT. He’s not even close.

— Tim Guilliams (@rkehokie) June 13, 2024

It is only June and Rodgers still has plenty of time to prove his worth as the star QB for the New York Jets.

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