New York Jets fans have a reason to be excited as organized team activities begin. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is participating in all activities and drills, per the 33rd team. Head coach Robert Saleh says his gunslinger has no restrictions this spring.
The development is big news for Jets fans, who have been overwhelmed with disappointment for the last several years. Rodgers joined the team with much fan-fare before the 2023 campaign, only to be lost for the season in the team's opening game.
“He has no restrictions and he looks good,” Saleh said, per the Associated Press. “The arm talent is obviously still there. It’s really just reacclimating to everything. We’re trying a bunch of new stuff, too. It’s just trying to evolve within the offense.”
Rodgers and the Jets
Rodgers joined New York's AFC team after leaving Green Bay in 2023. Rodgers was expected to make the club a playoff contender, but it just didn't work out. The quarterback tore his ACL in the first quarter of the team's first game, against the Buffalo Bills. He only lasted four snaps. While the Jets were able to string together some wins, the team's offense sputtered under other quarterbacks for the rest of the year.
Jets fans hope this season will turn out differently. A healthy Rodgers most likely means a much more efficient offense. The quarterback won a Super Bowl championship with the Packers, while also throwing for 59,055 career yards. He didn't record a single passing yard in his brief appearance for the Jets in 2023. In his career, Rodgers has 475 passing touchdowns, to 105 interceptions. He has played in the NFL since the 2005 season.
New York fans are surely going to pay close attention to how Rodgers looks in OTAs. The team is conducting activities through early June, before minicamp begins on June 11, per Sports Illustrated.
Jets 2024 outlook
New York is also working with quarterback Tyrod Taylor in spring practices. The team signed Taylor this offseason, after he threw for 1,341 yards in 2023 with the New York Giants. The Jets also parted ways with Zach Wilson, who was traded to the Denver Broncos. New York just simply can't go through another season with an injured Rodgers. The team has invested too much in him and expectations have been too high. Saleh may also not be able to survive another disappointing year.
The team finished 7-10 during the 2023 season. New York has had eight losing seasons in a row, and last won 10 games during the 2015 campaign. Jets fans are thirsting for success, and hopeful that Rodgers will bring that to them.
New York is engaging in OTAs again on Tuesday. Saleh feels his veteran gunslinger can do anything that is asked of him.
“He’s doing everything,” Saleh added.
