Who could be available if Jets sign another QB to replace Aaron Rodgers?

Aaron Rodgers almost certainly is out for the season with a ruptured Achilles injury in his left foot. If the Jets want to go beyond Zach Wilson and sign another quarterback, is there another one out there?

Coach Robert Saleh said late Monday that Zach Wilson would be “that guy” going forward. The Jets won’t have a ton of time to prepare anyone other than Wilson. The team next plays the Cowboys in Arlington’s AT&T Stadium. And sometime Tuesday, they’ll learn whether an MRI confirmed the Achilles diagnosis the Jets medical team made Monday night when they examined the quarterback at MetLife Stadium.

Of course, Wilson has been the guy for the Jets since the team selected him with the second pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. If he really had been the guy, the Jets never would’ve sought out Aaron Rodgers. Wilson was supposed to sit and learn under Rodgers for one, possibly two seasons.

Would the Jets try to replace Aaron Rodgers with Tom Brady?

So who else is out there? Is there a veteran with Aaron Rodgers’ savvy who has been through the grind and is a quick study of Nathanial Hackett’s offense?

First, let’s get this out of the way. Tom Brady appears pretty happy that he’s retired. He did come back to the NFL after he retired on Feb. 1, but that was to buy a slice of the Las Vegas Raiders. Maybe the Jets place a call to hear Brady say no. But they won’t know the answer unless they ask.

Brady posted a video of what he was doing Tuesday morning. Read into it what you want.

In the lab! Just trying to keep up with the kids these days… pic.twitter.com/ttwpJLPoxN

— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) September 12, 2023

Spotrac identified free agent quarterbacks the Jets could target. You’ve got Nick Foles, who won a Super Bowl for the Eagles as a reliever. And you also have Carson Wentz. He’s the injured quarterback Foles filled in for during the 2017 playoffs. Wentz, once an NFL darling, was a starter at the beginning of last year for the Commanders. But after an injury, he couldn’t beat out his backup Taylor Heinicke, who eventually lost the job to rookie Sam Howell.

Colt McCoy still is looking for a landing spot. The Cardinals, in a surprise move, waived McCoy on the cuts to 53. McCoy was dealing with an elbow injury.

Available Quarterbacks
▫️ Carson Wentz
▫️ Joe Flacco
▫️ Matt Ryan
▫️ Philip Rivers
▫️ Colt McCoy
▫️ Nick Foles
▫️ Trevor Siemian
▫️ Chase Daniel

Potential Trade Candidates
▫️ Case Keenum (HOU)
▫️ Mitchell Trubisky (PIT)
▫️ Gardner Minshew (IND)
▫️ Teddy Bridgewater (DET)

— Spotrac (@spotrac) September 12, 2023

Would Saints do a deal, maybe with Jameis Winston?

Maybe the Jets pick up the phone and call the Saints. The team has four quarterbacks on the roster, including former starter Jameis Winston, who now is Derek Carr’s backup. The other quarterbacks are Taysom Hill, a part-time tight end, and Jake Haener, the rookie from Fresno State. But Haener also is serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. So the Saints have three quarterbacks who are active.

What’s so bizarre is Aaron Rodgers isn’t the first Jets quarterback with Super Bowl hopes to suffer the exact same injury at almost the same point of a season opener. Let’s go back to September 1999. Vinny Testaverde, after leading the Jets to an AFC East title, ruptured his Achilles in the season opener.

The Jets used a fantastic punt return for a touchdown to win in overtime. Still, Saleh was reserved in post-game.

“I hurt for Aaron and how much he’s invested in this season,” Saleh said. “I’m still going to say a prayer and hold out hope.”