After nearly a year off due to Achilles surgery, Aaron Rodgers will play for the first time as a member of the Jets against the Patriots on Thursday night, marking his third game in 11 days.
The four-time NFL MVP and currently the league's oldest player at 40 years old, overcame numerous hurdles in a grueling rehabilitation from injury and led his team to its first win of the season on Sunday, Week 2, against the Titans.
“It definitely tests the body. We love to play, so it's great to have such a short time between games, but it's definitely tough on the body, it's a tough week,” Rodgers said after Tuesday's walk-through practice at Florham Park. “It's easier on a 20-year-old guy than a 40-year-old guy.”
“But we'll be ready on Thursday night and then we're looking forward to three days off after that.”
Not only will the game be the Jets' home opener after winning and losing their first two road games at San Francisco and Tennessee, but it will also be Rodgers' first at MetLife Stadium since rupturing his left Achilles tendon on the fourth offensive play in the season opener against the Bills last September.
“It feels good. It's been a while since I've been on the JetLife field so it's going to be emotional for sure,” Rodgers said. “But thankfully, this is already my third game this season, I've played the full two games.
“I'm feeling great. It's going to be fun to play with a crowd. I love playing at night, so I'm looking forward to it. No one's crazy about a Thursday game, but we all love the weekend after a Thursday game.”
Before his injury, Rodgers electrified the Meadowlands crowd by running onto the field carrying an American flag before his first home game as part of a Sept. 11 memorial.
When asked if he had anything special planned for Thursday night, Rogers said, “The flag thing was just something I did on a whim. I didn't have any planning going into it. Someone took the flag and I was like, 'OK, let's do this.' There'll be something, but whatever happens, happens.”
With Rodgers sidelined, the Jets finally ended a 15-game losing streak against the Patriots with a 17-3 victory in the regular-season finale at Gillette Stadium in January.
Notably, legendary coach Bill Belichick will not be on the sidelines in New England, having been replaced by former Patriots linebacker Jerrod Mayo, who has won and lost his first two games as head coach.
“They’ve played pretty well the last two weeks, allowing 10 and 23 points. [points in the two games]”They're a typical Patriots defense, they play really solid, smart football, they have a lot of technique that you don't see from other teams,” Rodgers said.
“Really smart, rugged, solid defense from front to back.”
The Jets have scored three touchdowns in each of their first two games, but after averaging just 171.5 yards passing through a 1-1 start, Rodgers believes his offense needs to be “a little sharper,” get “faster starts” and make “more plays.”
Rodgers added that he only thinks in those terms and isn't concerned with controlling emotions or “impacting” the AFC East rivalry any time soon.
“There's going to be emotions this week just like there always are during the national anthem, with the crowd, with the excitement going into the game at night, with the excitement heading into the stadium, tailgating,” Rodgers said. “There's always going to be emotions. If you love the game, there's always going to be emotions.”
