Aaron Rodgers rolled to his left, saw no one open and ran with the ball under his arm.
The Jets team broke through defenses in a long, energetic practice on Tuesday and came away with a win in what would have been a huge payoff in a real game.
Rodgers ran the length of the field to the end zone, playfully placed the ball on the goal line and then trotted down to the sideline as fans in the stands cheered.
Of course, the quarterback was wearing a red jersey, which means he was out of reach of the defense, so it’s unclear how far Rodgers would have gone if this was an actual game.
Those plays, while positive, are not the kind of plays head coach Robert Saleh wants to see from Rodgers after the 2024 season becomes a reality with the season opener at San Francisco on Sept. 9.
Saleh and everyone around the Jets will forever have in their minds the image of Rodgers rupturing his left Achilles on the fourth play of the 2023 season and would love to see him play with his right arm instead of his leg.
No official decision has been made, at least publicly, as to whether Rodgers will play in the preseason, but there are key indications that he will remain wrapped in bubble wrap until the start of the regular season.
I think that’s a mistake.
Rodgers, who did not play in the preseason opener against the Commanders, will also sit out Saturday’s game against Carolina.
At issue here is the Jets’ third preseason game, against the Giants on Aug. 24.
When it comes to the decision of whether or not to play in a preseason game, only Rodgers truly knows what is best for him, his history gives him the respect and credibility to decide exactly what that is, and I will defer to him on that point.
He didn’t ask me, and he doesn’t need to ask, but I believe Rodgers should play a series or two against the Giants.
I don’t think he needs to play in the preseason, but I think it would be very beneficial for him to do so, taking a few things into account.
For one, it will be his first game in 11 months, so putting on a uniform and experiencing that game-day feeling with defenders sprinting after him to try to sack him will be a good way to knock off the rust after a rigorous year of rehab.
Second, Rodgers will essentially be lining up behind an entirely new offensive line. Center Joe Tippmann and right guard Aliyah Vera-Tucker are the only linemen returning from the 2023 starting group. Both starting tackles, Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses, and left guard John Simpson were not with last year’s team.
It would benefit everyone involved if Rodgers were to play them for a series or two against the Giants. Not to mention, Tippmann has been struggling with severe yips all summer, and some game-day experience together would be crucial for the second-year center’s confidence and Rodgers’ faith in him.
Rodgers offered some very clear reasons Tuesday why missing the game is no big deal.
“Preseason is not real football,” he said. “Nobody wants to play. Nobody likes to show anything. I mean, our offense is [joint practice] Washington Game Day [last Thursday] “It wasn’t our offense. We didn’t execute any of our stuff. Preseason isn’t what it used to be.”
That’s a valid point, but whether the Jets or their opponents have anything to show for it is not my point.
The Jets don’t really need to make a decision based on what other teams do, but it’s worth noting that Giants coach Brian Daboll plans to use Daniel Jones in the team’s second preseason game this Saturday at Houston.
Jones is returning from a torn ACL and with several new offensive linemen and receivers, being on the field in games will be beneficial for himself and the team.
The Chiefs have no plans to rest two-time Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes before the season begins, after he appeared in Kansas City’s preseason opener last weekend.
Asked if the events of last September had made him overly cautious about using Rodgers as manager, Saleh stressed: “I’m not thinking about that.”
“I’m just looking at if it makes sense,” Saleh said. “Does it help us win Week 1? If we all feel like it helps us win Week 1, then we’ll make a decision accordingly. We’ll sit down and address everything that needs to be addressed, from every angle, as to whether it’s right for the organization.”
The right approach would be to play Rodgers for even just a series or two to allow him to get into the rhythm of the game and play positively.
Self-confidence can be a powerful panacea for even the best athletes in their respective sports.
Play him.
