John Simpson hasn’t been with Aaron Rodgers long, but the left guard already knows the responsibility that comes with guarding Rodgers, the man the Jets are building their hopes and dreams on.
“He’s the GOAT,” Simpson said after the Jets practiced Monday. “You just have to do your job, give him a little extra, and do your best every day. When you have a guy like him, changing the snap count and doing all that behind the line, you’ve got to be focused on what he’s saying because he runs the game.”
While it’s no one’s fault that Rodgers took a wrong turn on the turf at MetLife Stadium last season and ruptured his Achilles just four seconds into the game, it’s worth noting that the Jets’ offensive line struggled throughout training camp and for much of the regular season.
It’s no coincidence that of a quintet that also included Simpson, Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, only Joe Tippman and Aliyah Vera-Tucker are back.
Poor snapping was an issue during camp, and injuries meant the top five didn’t have much time together on the practice field, but Simpson said the line is quickly building chemistry.
“I think we’re further along than a lot of other places in terms of integrating with all the new guys in the room,” he said. “We’re always working to get closer as a team so that when we go into our first game, we can totally trust each other.”
The 26-year-old Charleston, South Carolina, native began his career with the Raiders and played alongside Moses in Baltimore last season.
The Jets signed him to a two-year, $12 million contract this offseason, with $6 million of that money guaranteed.
“John was a surprise. I don’t want to criticize him. It’s not a criticism. He’s a lot faster than we expected,” coach Robert Saleh said last week. “On the one hand, we knew he was quick, we knew he was athletic. But his ability to get to the second level, change direction off a combination block, stay balanced, maintain clean footwork and pad level is really impressive. It’s a guy that we’re all really happy with and really looking forward to working with in the future.”
Simpson, meanwhile, is excited to be entering camp next to Smith, one of the best left tackles of the last decade, and to be competing against Quinnen Williams on a regular basis.
“Every day is a battle,” he said of playing against Williams. “Every snap, every play, I’m just trying to give it my all and compete with a guy like him. I think he makes me better and I’m trying to do everything I can to make him better.”
As for Moses, Simpson said he benefited from the veteran’s tutelage during his time with the Ravens.
“He’s another guy that’s been in the league a long time and he knows what he’s talking about,” Simpson said. “He’s one of those guys that I’ll sit down and listen to him and try to learn something from him. This is my fifth year and every day I’m trying to learn and get better. So he’s one of those guys that I look at as a big brother.”
That all sounds great, but of course, none of it means anything until Rodgers plays 17 games, and hopefully more, to finish out the season with the Jets.
The foundations are being laid.
“It’s going well,” Simpson said of the offensive line, “we’ve got some new guys here and there. It usually takes some time for everybody to come together and fully trust each other. I feel like we’re moving in the right direction.”
