Apparently, Aaron Rodgers initially didn’t want to be activated off the Injured Reserve and return to the New York Jets’ 53-man roster. But that’s not because he’s still feeling some issues with his Achilles injury, but rather because he didn’t want for someone to lose their job.
By activating Rodgers off the Injured Reserve, the Jets had to remove someone from their active roster. And that someone was none other than fullback Nick Bawden, who was waived the same day Rodgers was activated.
Bawden, however, was not the real casualty of the Jets’ decision on Rodgers. The team actually signed him to the practice squad after he cleared waivers. Instead, they cut defensive back Kalon Barnes to open up a spot for Bawden.
The 27-year-old Bawden is expected to be elevated to the active roster for the remaining three games of the team. As for Barnes, he’s now left with no other choice but to find a new home, all before Christmas.
While some fans might blame Aaron Rodgers for what happened to Barnes–especially since the QB won’t be playing this year and shouldn’t have cost someone his job–the fact of the matter is the four-time MVP also resisted it before the New York Jets made the decision, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
“Per a source with direct knowledge of the situation, Rodgers didn’t want to trigger someone eventually losing their job. He resisted re-joining the 53-man roster for that very reason. Ultimately, we’re told, G.M. Joe Douglas and coach Robert Saleh made the call to activate Rodgers upon the closing of his three-week practice window,” Florio noted.
It certainly feels awful to see someone lose their job, but at the end of the day, that’s the harsh reality of the NFL. It’s still a business, and teams will do things that they believe is best for the organization, regardless of how brutal it might seem.
Aaron Rodgers’ Impact on the New York Jets Being Felt Already
When the New York Jets elevated Aaron Rodgers to the 53-man roster, their main reasoning is because he has a positive impact on the team with his presence.
By the looks of it, that is proving to be true, with Florio further reporting that Rodgers has already made things more competitive during Friday’s practice.
Rodgers was said to have run the scout team against the starting defense. Things then “got spirited” and “competitive,” helping the defense get ready for Sunday’s showdown with the Washington Commanders.
If that is true, then there’s no wonder why the Jets did what they did.
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