While Aaron Rodgers’ second game as a member of the New York Jets went better than his first, it was far from perfect.
The four-time NFL MVP completed 13 of his 21 pass attempts for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception with his New York Jets falling to the San Francisco 49ers 32-19 on Monday Night Football in what marked his first game since suffering a torn Achilles in last year’s season opener.
After the game, Rodgers spoke with reporters regarding his return to the field. And while the 40-year-old quarterback was clearly happy to be playing again, he was far from satisfied with his performance.
“This is a tough opener for us, travel-wise and schedule-wise, but no excuses,” Rodgers told reporters, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “We have to play better and I have to play better and we’ll bounce back.”
Meanwhile, Jets head coach Robert Saleh defended his star quarterback, stating: “We never really gave him a chance to get into a rhythm.”
The good news for the Jets is they still have 16 games left to make good on the lofty expectations they have faced since acquiring Rodgers in a trade with the Green Bay Packers ahead of the 2023 season. And the 10-time Pro Bowl selection clearly still has high hopes for New York this season, hinting at a potential Super Bowl rematch against the 49ers.
“They are a championship-level group — and I hope we see them then,” Rodgers said of the 49ers.
[ESPN]
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.