Aaron Rodgers’ first full season with the Jets has been filled with injury-related questions, from his expedited Achilles recovery in the offseason to the hamstring, knee and ankle injuries that resulted in appearances on the injury report starting in Week 5.
But Rodgers, according to NFL.com, has avoided undergoing any scans for those injuries because he doesn’t want “to reveal the severity of his injuries out of fear of having to come off the field. He has insisted that he keep playing.”
The 40-year-old has said publicly he feels healthy and has been a full participant in each of Gang Green’s practices since Oct. 28, and the next day, Rodgers joked about punter Thomas Morstead’s cayenne pepper and water mixture helping him find the “fountain of youth.”
But while there have been moments where Rodgers flashed his mobility, he has been limited outside of the pocket for the most part — with Patriots nose tackle Davon Godchaux even saying that he could “run him down and catch him” after New England defeated the Jets on Oct. 27.
Entering the Jets’ bye week, Rodgers has thrown for 2,442 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season, with a disappointing offense to start the campaign — the Jets still haven’t hit 30 points in 2024 — one of the early signs of Gang Green starting to spiral.
It resulted in Nathaniel Hackett getting stripped of play-calling duties after Robert Saleh was fired and Jeff Ulbrich became the interim head coach.
But outside of a second half against the Texans on Oct. 31, when Rodgers threw for three touchdowns, the mediocre results have continued.
So that has led the Jets and Rodgers to an interesting crossroads — and the looming potential for a divorce less than two years after they merged and opened a Super Bowl window for the franchise.
Before the Jets lost to the Colts in Week 11, Rodgers said that the way 2024 unfolded hasn’t changed his plans to play in 2025.
But with Saleh fired and with general manager Joe Douglas canned last week, the Jets’ offseason will be defined by hiring processes and new faces on the staff.
Owner Woody Johnson reportedly floated the idea of benching Rodgers following their Week 4 loss against the Broncos, too.
All of that has led to Rodgers being the subject of speculation revolving around the possibility of an injured reserve stint later this season if he or the Jets decide the quarterback shouldn’t continue to play — and what that would mean for his Gang Green future.
Maybe, at that point, imaging and scans will reveal the severity of what Rodgers has been playing through.