The New York Jets were hopeful that their 2023 trade for four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers would be enough to return them to relevance for the first time in over a decade. The last time the Jets made the NFL Playoffs was in the 2010 season, which coincidentally was the only time Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl during his tenure there.
As fans are all too well aware, the optimism surrounding New Yorks’ 2023 season was dashed early in Week One when their future Hall of Fame quarterback went down with a torn Achilles. While he teased a superhuman recovery and the possibility of playing later in the season, his year was done.
New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Faces an Uphill Battle in 2024
A torn Achilles is a brutal injury to come back from. However, several players have suffered the injury and have gone on to have successful careers after they recovered.
But Rodgers is entering his age 41 season and has far more seasons behind him than he does ahead of him. What is more, there is an incredible amount of pressure on Rodgers and the Jets coaching staff to have a successful season.
The question is whether or not he will be able to return to form after suffering such a devastating injury. One must remember, too, that he has not played a complete NFL regular season game since January of 2022.
And that 2022 season was not exactly vintage Rodgers either. He completed 64.6% of his passes for 3,695 yards, 26 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, and a 91.1 passer rating.
These are not exactly bad numbers per say, but they are far from the MVP-level of play he displayed in 2020 and 2021. Now being nearly a year removed from competing on the field in a meaningful game, the expectation is that he, at 40 years old and coming off of a major injury, improve upon his play from two years ago and bring a playoff-starved franchise back to relevance.
It’s a tall order.
New York Jets Quarterback Aaron Rodgers Appears to Have His Mobility Back
One of the reasons older quarterbacks drop off so suddenly is because the lower half of their body can no longer move fast enough to avoid pressures and keep plays alive. After suffering an Achiller tear, this was a very grave concern for fans regarding Rodgers.
However, it sounds as if coaches and his teammates are seeing that Rodgers’ mobility has returned. According to Ralph Ventre of Sports Illustrated, head coach Robert Saleh said, “You can tell that he’s gaining more and more confidence in it because he’s not afraid to run and leave the pocket. He’s been doing it if you guys notice during our routes on air, during individual and group install.
“I mentioned it yesterday, he’s got plenty of mobility. He showed it in Carolina. He’s been showing it in practice. It was really cool for him to do it again. There was obviously a couple of off-schedule throws that he made.”
Ventre also reports that offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett said, “I give so much credit to Aaron. The things that he has put himself through to be able to get back to where he is at right now. I think we saw a little bit of it yesterday, and he looks like he always has.”
While his speed may have dipped because of his age, Rodgers still is able to navigate the pocket and extend plays when he needs to. As dangerous as he is in the pocket, a mobile Rodgers is a threat many NFL defenses are not able to easily stop.
If he really is back to being able to extend plays with his legs, the Jets could be in for a successful season.
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