New York Jets enthusiasts stand at the ready to witness the team's starting offense in full swing this Saturday when No. 8, Aaron Rodgers, finally joins the game. The quarterback's appearance, coming after missing the first three preseason games, will mark his first time playing for the Jets after a confirmed source revealed his plan to jump into the preseason finale at MetLife Stadium.
Rodgers, the four-time MVP, has been absent from any preseason action since 2018 when each team played at least four exhibition games. Despite his absence in games, Rodgers, 39, has engaged in joint practices against the Panthers and Buccaneers throughout the training camp, taking a backseat while Zach Wilson started preseason games against the Browns, Panthers, and Buccaneers.
The Jets' final match with the Giants this Saturday is a critical one since it leads up to the regular season's primetime opener against the Buffalo Bills on September 11. Though Rodgers starting in this preseason finale doesn't come as a shock since Jets coach Robert Saleh suggested as much, Rodgers's indifference about participating in preseason games doesn't diminish his eagerness to play. "I haven't played in a while, and I'll be ready either way," says Rodgers.
Several of the team's starters, possibly including reigning NFL offensive rookie of the year Garrett Wilson, who has yet to play a preseason game, are expected to show up this Saturday. Whether running backs Dalvin Cook and Breece Hall, who recently joined the Jets, play against the Giants is yet to be confirmed. The Jets' offensive line's status, particularly concerning guards Laken Tomlinson (leg) and Alijah Vera-Tucker (ankle) who both missed practice last week, also remains uncertain.
Despite this, Rodgers, who switched from Green Bay's team to Jets after 15 seasons, isn't overly concerned about the O-line. "It's August 16, so we got some time," he said after Wednesday's practice. "I don't get concerned heavily about things I don't have a huge role in."
Weighing in on the matter, Coach Saleh, featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” training camp reality show spotlighting the team's struggles, said, "You can have a Hall of Fame quarterback. You can have two $10 million-plus receivers, you can have a reigning offensive rookie of the year [Garrett Wilson]. You can have all kinds of skills in the running back room. None of it f--king matters until the big boys up front change who the f--k we are.”
