The Return of Aaron Rodgers Faces Early Hurdles in New York
The New York Jets' Monday practice session, their first in pads this season, was met with a whirlwind of struggles, most notably for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Amid a series of team blunders, Rodgers' frustration was palpable, signaling a rocky start for the seasoned quarterback in his new environment.
The session featured an array of challenges that prevented Rodgers from finding his rhythm. Just two plays into the practice, he threw an interception, the result of a dropped pass from wide receiver Allen Lazard, who joined the Jets this offseason. This set a precedent for a day filled with repeated mistakes that wound up testing Rodgers’ patience and resilience.
Throughout the practice, Rodgers experienced numerous "sacks" and had to deal with multiple off-target shotgun snaps from rookie center Joe Tippmann. Tippmann, a second-round draft pick in 2023, has been struggling with his snaps since training camp began. The inaccurate snaps continually disrupted the flow, forcing Rodgers to jump for the ball repeatedly, further adding to his visible frustration. At one point, Rodgers was even stepped on by either Tippmann or offensive lineman John Simpson, adding a physical toll to the trying practice.
Head Coach Robert Saleh openly acknowledged the rookie’s struggles. "Yeah, he has to work on it. There's clearly something going on," Saleh commented, emphasizing the need for improvement as Tippmann continued to practice his snaps with Rodgers and a coach on the sideline.
In addition to the technical difficulties, there were moments of heated interaction, including a discerning conversation between Rodgers and wide receiver Garrett Wilson on the sidelines. Rodgers, returning from an Achilles surgery that sidelined him for most of last season, is holding not just himself but everyone around him to an exceptionally high standard.
"Honestly, he expects the same standard that he holds himself to out of everyone else, and today just didn't resemble that at all," acknowledged Lazard. "I think as an offense we were just a little bit sloppy."
Despite the rocky practice, there were underlying positives concerning Rodgers' stringent expectations for his team. "I would say 'demonstrative' is a good word for him. You're talking about one of the best, if not the best quarterback of all time, and his standard and level of play is something a lot of guys haven't seen yet," Lazard said. "Even this organization—they haven't really been with him on game day because being with him on the sideline on a Sunday is different."
Rodgers has shown sharpness during camp prior to Monday's session, and his arrival aims to remedy the offensive struggles the Jets faced last season when they managed a league-low 18 touchdowns. His high standards and Hall of Fame credentials have injected a new level of accountability within the team.
Tight end Tyler Conklin also reflected on Rodgers' influence. "I think that's the beauty of playing with a great like that. You have someone that's going to, at all times, hold everybody accountable, no matter who you are. I think that's kind of something that not every team has. I think that's really a blessing at the end of the day to have someone that cares that much and has a standard like that."
Rodgers, a Super Bowl champion, brings a wealth of experience and a winning mentality that the Jets sorely need. "That's going to become our standard as a team. But to have a Hall of Famer who has won a Super Bowl—been there, done that—I think that's necessary," Conklin added.
Monday's challenging practice session is a stark reminder of the growing pains the Jets must endure as they integrate Rodgers into their system. As the team works through these initial setbacks, the hope remains that they will rise to the occasion, propelled by Rodgers' leadership and championship mindset.