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While Aaron Rodgers hasn’t suited up for a preseason game since 2018 with the Green Bay Packers, the 39-year-old future Hall of Famer intends to play a few snaps against the Giants in the New York Jets’ final exhibition game of the summer.
Speaking to reporters earlier this week, while Rodgers acknowledged there is an inherent risk in him playing in the preseason, he believes it’d be good to get some actual snaps in with the rest of the team.
“There’s always that risk-reward. I think over the years, it just hasn’t made sense based on a number of different factors, but I used to enjoy playing the preseason back in my younger years, just to kind of maybe take that first hit or feel kind of the nerves in the first drive, so I look forward to being out there,” Rodgers said.
“There was not much of a conversation with Robert [Saleh]. I think he was a little more nervous that I might have said no, but I was already leaning towards asking him to play. So, it was an easy conversation and I’m not sure how long it’s going to be, but it would be good to be out there with the guys.”
.@AaronRodgers12 on playing in the preseason finale against the Giants. pic.twitter.com/j7rJj7CmIB
— New York Jets (@nyjets) August 22, 2023
After their tune-up against the Giants, the Gang Green will then begin preparations for their season opener against the Buffalo Bills in about three weeks.
Not only will Rodgers’ first official game with the Jets be against one of the NFL’s best teams but it’ll also be in the national spotlight as the September 11 tilt between the two AFC East foes will be the first Monday Night Football game of the season.
Heading into the 2023-24 campaign, despite the fact that the organization hasn’t made the playoffs for a league-worst 12 years, the Jets are expected to be one of the main contenders for the title this season, as only six teams — the Chiefs, Eagles, 49ers, Bills, Bengals, and Cowboys — currently have shorter betting odds to win the Super Bowl.