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Aaron Rodgers’ career with the New York Jets ended before it ever truly began, as the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer tore his Achilles just four snaps into his tenure with the team.
Rodgers didn’t even get to complete an official pass as a member of Gang Green, despite dropping back three times. And on two of those dropbacks, the Jets called plays with cut blocks, which Rodgers apparently had issues with during the preseason.
According to The Athletic NFL writer Zack Rosenblatt, Rodgers previously expressed to the Jets’ offensive staff that he doesn’t like “play-calls involving the cut-blocks because he can’t extend the play and it forces him to get rid of the ball quickly.”
Aaron Rodgers had expressed to #Jets coaches that he doesn't like the play-calls involving the cut-blocks because he can't extend the play and it forces him to get rid of the ball quickly, sources tell me and @DMRussini.
It failed twice on his four drop-backs — one resulted in…
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) September 12, 2023
That report was then confirmed by SNY beat reporter Connor Hughes, who said he heard throughout the summer that Rodgers had “concerns” with the offensive playcalling, which is especially strange considering her told Fox’s Erin Andrews on Sunday that offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is his favorite coach in the league.
Ultimately, Hackett called cut blocks on two of Rodgers’ three pass attempts, with one of them resulting in a season-and-possibly career-ending Achilles tear.
Without the services of Rodgers, the Jets will now turn to Zach Wilson as their starting quarterback once again. While Wilson was ultimately able to lead the Jets to a thrilling Week 1 victory over the Buffalo Bills, his installation as the starting QB has effectively killed the Jets’ chances of winning the Super Bowl, as their betting odds have cratered from 18-1 to 35-1.
Selected out of BYU as the #2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Wilson has not only failed to establish himself as the Jets’ franchise signal-caller but has also looked like one of the worst draft busts in recent NFL history.
After completing 14 of 21 passes for 140 yards, a touchdown, and an interception against the Bills on Monday, Wilson will make his first start of the 2023 season next Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.