Some were surprised when New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers insisted earlier this week that he plans to play for the club next season, considering Gang Green lost seven of its first 10 games of the ongoing campaign as Rodgers looked like a shell of his former great self.
According to Mike Chiari of Bleacher Report, NFL insider Dianna Russini of The Athletic said on the latest “Scoop City” podcast that the Jets are “planning” to bring Rodgers back next season.
Interstingly, Russini offered her update after Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic shared how the Jets could afford to cut Rodgers if he doesn’t retire at 41. The future Hall of Famer has been slowed by injuries to both his knees, a low ankle sprain and a hamstring issue this fall. Additionally, the numbers indicate the version of Rodgers, who last earned Most Valuable Player Award honors for the 2021 regular season, no longer exists.
Per ESPN stats, Rodgers heads into the weekend ranked 24th in the NFL among qualified players with a 51.9 adjusted QBR and 23rd with an 86.8 passer rating for the season. He tossed 15 touchdown passes and seven interceptions over New York’s first 10 games.
Unless Rodgers guides the Jets on a magical run that ends in a playoff berth, the franchise will almost certainly part ways with interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich as soon as the NFL’s “Black Monday” in January. Some have suggested Rodgers won’t want to start over with a new offensive coach next year, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy could become available following the season.
Rodgers played under McCarthy when both were with the Green Bay Packers from 2006 through the 2018 campaign, and they won a Super Bowl together in February 2011. During his latest appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers touched upon his “love” for McCarthy and spoke about how they had “13 incredible years together.”
Rodgers can be unpredictable, so he may have second thoughts about his future and ride off into the sunset of retirement before the Jets make expected offseason changes. If he sticks around, giving him McCarthy as his coach for even a year makes all kinds of sense for everybody involved.
