“Walk like an Egyptian” will probably be the first song to play over the speakers at Jets training camp.
Aaron Rodgers, returning from a season-ending torn Achilles, confirmed reports Friday that he was in Egypt when he missed mandatory minicamp after participating in all voluntary OTAs in June.
He is scheduled to return to Florham Park, New Jersey, when the Jets’ veteran players gather for training camp on July 23.
“I’ve been feeling good all spring,” Rogers told NBC Sports while playing in the American Century Championship golf tournament. “I had some good OTAs. I had a nice trip to Egypt. And this is kind of the final closure. Summer ends on Sunday. It’s pretty bittersweet walking down the 18th hole, but it’s fun to be here.”
The Jets were aware of Rodgers’ long-standing plans to visit Egypt but determined his absence was “unexcused” and made him liable for the fine because exempting one of their star players from mandatory training camp for non-emergency reasons sets a bad precedent.
The practice format for OTAs and spring minicamp will be essentially the same.
The 40-year-old Rodgers played just four games with the Jets last season, cutting his Super Bowl run short, but he’s slowly getting back on track as he returns to a team loaded with top-tier talent.
“My Achilles is good,” Rodgers said. “It was really good at the end of last year, and then … there’s always a plateau. It just comes back.”
Jets fans are hoping Rodgers’ return to the football field after surgery will be as smooth as his return to the golf course.
“I was fortunate to hit an ace on the 17th hole at Shadow Creek in the first round,” Rogers said, referring to the Las Vegas golf course. “That was the highlight of my golf offseason.”
Rodgers will be No. 10.Number If he can stay healthy through the summer, he’ll become the longest-time passing quarterback in NFL history in his age-41 season.
