Whereas talking with reporters on Wednesday, Aaron Rodgers appeared like a quarterback who is aware of this Sunday’s house sport towards the 8-8 Miami Dolphins shall be his final as a member of the New York Jets.
Rodgers additionally hinted he might retire no matter whether or not or not a brand new Jets regime asks him to stay round for an additional season.
“I would like a break mentally, and I don’t need to decide till I’ve been in a position to relaxation mentally and bodily,” Rodgers defined, as shared by Zack Rosenblatt and Cale Clinton of The Athletic. “As a result of actually since Sept. 11 [2023], it appears like I’ve been rehabbing and coaching simply to get to have the ability to play in coaching camp, after which clearly had the nerves of enjoying the primary few video games and type of simply getting banged up, simply attempting to get again on the sphere for a lot of weeks till the final three or 4 the place I felt actually good. So I simply want a break mentally to only type of refresh, put my toes within the sand and see the place I’m at after that.”
Rodgers basically missed the complete 2023 season, his first with the Jets, as a consequence of a torn Achilles he suffered early into the marketing campaign’s Week 1 sport. Extra lately, the long run Corridor of Famer, who turned 41 years previous in December, was slowed this season by ankle, knee and hamstring accidents. He additionally routinely left a lot to be desired together with his play main as much as being benched on this previous Sunday’s 40-14 blowout loss to the Buffalo Payments that dropped the Jets to 4-12.
Per Pro Football Reference, Rodgers ranks twenty fifth within the NFL with a 48.3 adjusted QBR and twenty fourth with a 43.8% passing success rate on the season. In the meantime, ESPN stats present that the Jets head into Week 18 ranked twenty fourth within the league with a mean of 19.1 factors scored per sport.
A report from earlier this week claimed that the Jets “are anticipated to maneuver on from” Rodgers after the season, partially as a result of his relationship with group proprietor Woody Johnson is allegedly “irreparable.” Johnson fired Jets head coach Robert Saleh in October and normal supervisor Joe Douglas in November. Logic suggests new management will need to transfer ahead with its personal chosen quarterback.
In line with Andy Vasquez of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Rodgers insisted on Wednesday his time with the Jets has “been one of the best two years of my life” regardless of the setbacks he has endured since September 2023. He additionally talked about he is “resigned to the truth of the state of affairs” that change is coming to the group.
Russ Weakland and Oliver Salt of the Every day Mail reported that Rodgers might look to affix the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans or Las Vegas Raiders if he is proven the door by the Jets. Nevertheless, at the very least one unnamed general manager believes Rodgers might wrestle to discover a new NFL house contemplating his age, damage historical past and current lackluster play.
“This sport has given me quite a bit,” Rodgers added on Wednesday. “And I’ve given quite a bit again to it. And I’m grateful for it.”
