A Saturday report indicated Rodgers was likely to finish the season on IR or on the bench. We don’t seem at that time but. Interim Jets HC Jeff Ulbrich stated (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) Rodgers would “completely” begin in opposition to the Seahawks in Week 13.
The Jets sit 3-8, leading to Douglas’ firing, and numerous studies have detailed Woody Johnson‘s outsized affect in personnel matters during the GM’s final year in charge. The Rodgers-Johnson relationship, considered by some to be frosty, could decide how this chapter ends. A Sunday report, nonetheless, did describe a fracture between QB and proprietor as overblown.
Johnson is broadly believed to have recommended his then-Robert Saleh-led teaching workers bench Rodgers after he struggled in opposition to the Broncos in Week 4. As could possibly be anticipated, Jets coaches talked the proprietor out of that audacious effort. Rodgers, 41 subsequent week, has not carefully resembled his MVP-level kind this season however has additionally been battling accidents. The long run Corridor of Famer has run into ankle, knee and hamstring hassle this season, with the hamstring problem believed to be essentially the most vital. When requested a couple of report that indicated Rodgers refused medical scans in an effort to maintain his accidents’ severity hidden, Ulbrich stated that was “information to me.”
Rodgers tried to make a traditionally fast return from an Achilles tear final yr, resurfacing at observe with an official IR-return designation. Although, he admitted he was not 100% — as could possibly be anticipated — as soon as he got here again to observe. However Rodgers has displayed toughness as a Jet, albeit whereas failing to show the staff round as many anticipated. QBR locations Rodgers twenty fourth this season, reminding of his 2022 kind (twenty sixth). He has averaged simply 6.4 yards per try this season; that may be a career-low mark for the Seventeenth-year starter.
The Jets are 1-5 underneath Ulbrich and 1-4 since buying Davante Adams, at Rodgers’ urging. The staff ranks twenty seventh in scoring and whole offense, whereas Ulbrich’s management has introduced a defensive regression as effectively. Rodgers has nonetheless backed Ulbrich, who had been the Jets’ DC from 2021 till Saleh’s firing. Each are extremely more likely to be elsewhere in 2025.
Except the Browns take an unfathomable lifeless cash hit by chopping Deshaun Watson subsequent yr, the Jets dropping Rodgers would deliver the second-most lifeless cash one participant ever has. Solely the Broncos’ $83M-plus Russell Wilson launch will are available in increased, as it will price the Jets $49M — more likely to be cut up up through a post-June 1 designation — to launch Rodgers.
If the Jets are to show away from Rodgers as they each put together for a recent begin — whereas doubtlessly aiming to make sure a greater probability at a top-five draft selection — they’d stand to exchange him with Tyrod Taylor, who signed a two-year, $12M take care of the staff this offseason. It’s unclear if the staff would desire a full-on overhaul on the place, however Taylor is tied to a $6M base wage for 2025. Of that whole, $2.5M is assured.