The Athletic digs into Jets problems in wake of Aaron Rodgers injury, and Packers fans will recognize some sentiments
JR Radcliffe
Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini of The Athletic wrote an article that ran Wednesday morning detailing the systematic issues inside the New York Jets, where the offseason acquisition of ex-Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers brought a renewed energy to the franchise's hopes, only to see them dashed by Rodgers' Week 1 injury.
Collecting data from what the writers said were "30 sources in and around the organization," the story chronicles some Rodgers notes that Packers fans will find a bit familiar.
"It’s not uncommon for team decision-makers to consult star quarterbacks on potential roster additions, but the perception around the league was the Jets went beyond the norm," they wrote. “'Rodgers isn’t the assistant GM,'” one AFC general manager said. 'Joe Douglas is the assistant GM.'”
That won't escape Packers fans, who watched Rodgers exert what sometimes appeared to be outsized influence. With Rodgers in New York, the Jets brought in several familiar faces from past Packers teams, like Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Billy Turner and Tim Boyle. The story reports that Rodgers had offensive lineman David Bakhtiari and tight end Marcedes Lewis on "his wish list" as well.
The article indicates that offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who held the job with the Packers before an ill-fated partial season as Denver Broncos head coach, had issues with preparedness and continued calling plays that he'd call if Rodgers returned, even when the Jets went to a youth movement later in the season.
"Unsurprisingly, the offensive operation was even sloppier — the Jets led the league in pre-snap penalties and total penalties," The Athletic wrote.
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“Football hasn’t been this hard," Jets standout receiver Garrett Wilson said. "When I watch it on the sideline, it don’t look that hard for the other team so we gotta figure out something to get it rolling no matter who is slinging it.”
The article said young quarterback Zach Wilson, relegated to backup duty with the addition of Rodgers but then returned to a starting role when Rodgers tore his Achilles on the first drive of the season, told coaches and teammates that he believed he'd have a direct line to Rodgers even after the injury. Instead, Wilson barely heard from Rodgers, and his relationship with the future Hall of Famer waned over the course of the season.
The story paints a picture of an organization that believes Rodgers' return from injury, even at age 40 and coming off a torn Achilles, will help paper over issues on the roster.
"But Rodgers welcomes doubters — it motivates him," they wrote.
The Packers, as everyone knows by now, came out ahead in the deal with the Jets, essentially picking up a second-round pick in the 2024 draft and transitioning to Jordan Love, who led Green Bay to the divisional round of the playoffs despite the league's youngest roster.