After New York Jets owner Woody Johnson fired general manager Joe Douglas, it was reported that the team was considering parting ways with quarterback Aaron Rodgers this offseason, partly because Johnson believes Rodgers “is not good anymore.”
Following the Jets’ 26-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, which dropped their record to 3-9, NFL insider Connor Hughes explained why Rodgers “doesn’t factor into” the team’s long-term plans past Week 18. “The Jets were looking for a fresh start with a new general manager, head coach, and quarterback,” Hughes said. “While Rodgers had expressed a desire to return, depending on who the new GM and head coach were, the Jets doubted whether Rodgers could lead them where they wanted to go. For the first time in a decade, Rodgers had to prove he was worthy of staying as their quarterback. He failed to do that on Sunday.”
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic noted that Rodgers had one of his worst performances with the Jets against the Seahawks. He completed 21 of 39 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception that was returned for a touchdown. He also missed open receivers multiple times. Seahawks defensive tackle Leonard Williams commented after the game that Rodgers, now “an older guy,” seemed reluctant to take big hits.
Rodgers ranked 25th in the NFL with a 48.5 adjusted QBR for the season, according to ESPN stats. Meanwhile, the Jets were 26th in the league in scoring, averaging just 18.8 points per game.
Rodgers may try to convince Johnson, the new GM, and the new head coach that his struggles were due to the knee, ankle, and hamstring injuries he has dealt with this season. However, Hughes suggested that it is becoming clear that Rodgers may not finish the season as the starter and could be replaced by backup Tyrod Taylor before the Jets’ game against the 5-7 Miami Dolphins on Sunday.
The Jets could release Rodgers when the new league year starts in March, and it seems likely that Rodgers would want to leave if he’s benched before the end of the season. As of December, there are many uncertainties surrounding the Jets’ future, but it appears the team’s experiment with Rodgers may have unofficially ended on Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
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