Jets’ Rodgers is Healthy, Focused, and ‘Relaxed’ One Year Post-Injury

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A year ago, Aaron Rodgers faced a daunting uncertainty regarding his football career as he exited the field with a torn Achilles tendon. Fast forward to today, the quarterback for the New York Jets is not only healthy but also preparing for a new opponent after successfully completing his comeback game.

On the anniversary of his injury, the 40-year-old player found himself focused on the upcoming game against the Tennessee Titans, rather than dwelling on the disappointments of the past year. “I had forgotten about it, actually, until I got a text this morning early about it,” Rodgers revealed, choosing not to disclose the sender’s identity.

Since that fateful day during his debut with the Jets on September 11, 2023, when he went down on just the fourth play against the Buffalo Bills, Rodgers endured a challenging year. That moment briefly left him questioning whether he had just played the final snap of his career. However, his approach to recovery was nothing short of remarkable. Known for his fierce determination, he tackled rehabilitation with the same tenacity that earned him four NFL MVP awards.

Now, having successfully returned to the field, Rodgers has his eyes set firmly on team victories. “Yeah, we go into the Groundhog Day mindset being a Wednesday and we’re on to the next opponent,” he said. “There was a lot of emotion, a lot of perspective and gratitude. A lot has changed in a year, and I’m glad to still be playing and feel healthy.”

In his first game back, Rodgers completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards, including one touchdown. However, an interception, which resulted from a deflected pass, overshadowed the performance as the Jets faced a 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. While he felt physically sound after the game, his determination to improve this week against the Titans remained unwavering.

“I feel good about what I did out there, for the most part,” he noted, reflecting positively on his footwork and communication. “There’s some things I can clean up, for sure, but it was good to get back out there and feel like I was in the flow, at least.”

Leading up to the encounter with the 49ers, Rodgers cautioned against premature conclusions that fans and media tend to rush into after a game’s outcome. He suggested that a victory would ignite talk of a Super Bowl run, while a loss would reinforce the long-held narrative of the “same old Jets.” His foresight proved accurate as the Jets’ lackluster performance drew skepticism from fans and analysts alike.

Despite the surrounding noise, Rodgers is committed to maintaining a calm demeanor amid the emotional highs and lows of the season. “I mean, I think we’ve always got to stay relaxed,” he advised. “It’s a long season. It’s more like a nice, slow bolero, where we’re swaying with the music and reacting to whatever comes to us and just trying not to get too high with the highs or too low with the lows.”

Rodgers acknowledged that today’s media landscape is vastly changed from when he famously urged Green Bay Packers fans to “R-E-L-A-X” a decade ago. The increase in media coverage and the rise of social media amplify the tendency for overreactions, making it crucial for players to focus on the process rather than external pressures.

“There’s so much more opportunity for overreaction, so I get it,” he continued. “We want to win, the fans want to win, the organization wants to win, but the process has to be the same. If it’s good enough in Week 1, it’s good enough in the playoffs. We’ve got to stick to the preparation and trust that it’s good enough.”

The Jets are optimistic about achieving a triumphant outing in Nashville, with the added challenge of a quick turnaround for their home opener against New England on Thursday night. “I really asked those guys up front to block for me, so I can feel like I do right now,” Rodgers said, grinning. “I got hit twice and kicked once (against San Francisco). So that’s a pretty good night for a 40-year-old.”

In roster news, the Jets have welcomed back familiar face Connor McGovern, a former starting center who rejoins the practice squad after recovering from a knee injury. The team also added linebacker Jackson Sirmon to the practice squad and released running back Xazavian Valladay. Defensive backs D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II were noted as limited during the team’s walkthrough, though head coach Robert Saleh anticipated both would be ready for game day. Defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw was absent from practice to welcome the birth of his child.