Aaron Rodgers ‘not worried’ about getting preseason game reps

Aaron Rodgers still hasn’t played a down for the Jets since last year’s season opener. He spent Saturday’s preseason contest against the Commanders on the sideline and probably will do the same this week for the Panthers.

There’s just not much there to get the 40-year-old Rodgers excited for preseason football. After 20 years, what meaning do games in August really have for the Jets quarterback?

“It’s to see if the young guys, once the lights go on, the pads go on, tackling happens, if they can show up or if they don’t,” Rodgers told reporters on Tuesday. “What’s there to gain? You know, just going out there, being back on the field in a situation where you can get hit. The way we went after our defense … the few days we go against them, I’ll probably get hit as well.”

Rodgers also had a similar response when a reporter asked him if he needed some preseason game reps to get accustomed to his new offensive linemen.

The Jets quarterback shrugged. “Preseason, it’s not real football.” That could be a bumper sticker.

Aaron Rodgers is not concerned about needing to play in the preseason:

"Preseason, it's not real football" pic.twitter.com/sJmD5hdUWy

— Jets Videos (@snyjets) August 13, 2024

Jets coach Robert Saleh said at the beginning of training camp that Rodgers would be unlikely to play for the first two games in August.

 “My instinct right now as I stand here is we’ll see,” Saleh said. “My instinct is no, but I want to leave it open. That third game is the one where we’re deciding.”

The third game, or preseason finale, is against the Giants. The two share MetLife Stadium, so it’s a rivalry game always played at home for both teams. It means more at the same time that it doesn’t mean much. Saleh will use the game to gather more info on who to keep and who to release. The Jets-Giants play Aug. 24. Then three days later, all NFL teams must trim their rosters from 90 to 53.

The Jets won their preseason opener over the Commanders, 20-17. Most eyes were on Jayden Daniels, Washington’s rookie quarterback. He was the second pick of April’s NFL Draft behind Caleb Williams. Daniels completed two of his three pass attempts then took a seat on the bench. Even rookies don’t need to play as much anymore.

The Jets currently have four quarterbacks on the roster. Veteran Tyrod Taylor should be the backup to Rodgers once the season starts. He attempted two passes, completing one, against the Commanders.

The large share of the snaps went to Adrian Martinez and Andrew Peasley. Those two are vying for the third-team job. Peasley was last throwing passes for Wyoming. The Jets signed him days after the NFL Draft.

Martinez is an interesting prospect. He started at Nebraska, then transferred to K-State, where he shared snaps with Will Howard. The Lions signed Martinez last year as an undrafted rookie free agent. Martinez didn’t make it out of training camp. However, he signed with the Birmingham Stallions in the newly formed UFL. And he ended the spring season as the UFL’s league MVP as well as the MVP of the championship game.

But, the Jets season should be all about Rodgers and how his body handles it all. New York is hoping to break a 13-year playoff dry spell.