Aaron Rodgers fires back at reports Zach Wilson reluctant to start again for Jets

Joining the Pat McAfee Show live on Tuesday for his weekly appearance, New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers addressed a recent report from Dianna Russini of the Athletic that sources claim backup quarterback Zach Wilson is “reluctant” to start again for the organization.

The host came right out and asked Rodgers: “Did you talk to [Wilson] about saying, ‘I don’t want to play football here?'” The four-time league MVP dismissed the report based on anonymous sources and questioned the outright character assassination of his young teammate.

“When you have sources, and that’s always an interesting thing… When you use sources, whether intentional or unintentional, to assassinate someone’s character like that report does for Zach, I have a real hard time with that,” Rodgers said.

“How can you not read it any other way? You’re saying that this kid is basically quitting on his team and doesn’t want to play, giving the middle finger to the organization,” Rodgers continued. “Listen, I don’t want to speak for him because he’s going to get a chance to speak this week. I’ll tell you that I love the kid. I’ve spent a lot of time with him. I think he’s an amazing young man.

“And he is young… he’s gone through a lot of shit over the last three years. I think he has every right to be frustrated and disappointed about it. I think he’s done a good job of stepping up and taking accountability this year when it’s been his part to do it.”

Rodgers questions sources of Wilson slander

Rodgers also criticized the internal leaks from the Jets organization, which he believes has been a problem even before this incident.

“If that’s journalism now, you’re going to use sources, I want to say the F word now… Whoever that person is, that thinks it’s okay, I don’t understand what you get out of that No. 1. No. 2, what is your motivation to want to bury someone like that?” the QB said. “That’s a problem within the organization. We need to get to the bottom of where this is coming from and put a stop to it, privately. There’s no place in a winning culture for it, and this isn’t the only time. There’s been a bunch of other leaks.”

The New York Jets are currently 4-8 and going in the wrong direction if they’re hoping for a late-season push worthy of Rodgers’ return. They host the surging Houston Texans on Sunday for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Head coach Robert Saleh has yet to make a decision on which quarterback will start against the Texans.

After starting Tim Boyle, the Jets waived the QB on Tuesday and are replacing his spot on the roster with Brett Rypien from the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad, ESPN confirmed.