Aaron Rodgers expected at Jets practice next month
Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets run drills during training camp in 2023. Credit: Getty Images/Mike Stobe
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Jets expect Aaron Rodgers to be on their practice field in April and May and not on the campaign trail.
Coach Robert Saleh said he’s “fully anticipating” that Rodgers will be available for the offseason workouts.
Saleh was referring to Rodgers’ return from a torn Achilles tendon. But there was some question as to his availability after third-party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. floated the idea that he could pick Rodgers to be his running mate. Nicole Shanahan reportedly will fill that role.
“I hope he feels like he has some candidates for Director of Homeland Security and Secretaries of Defense now that we’ve fortified the O-line,” general manager Joe Douglas said. “When all that was getting out there, I was focused on nothing but improving the team. I didn’t take that very seriously.”
After last season, Rodgers said he would take part in OTAs. He attended everything after the Jets traded for him last April. His season ended in Week 1, but Rodgers participated in practice in December and January.
“Expecting him to be available for spring,” Saleh said. “OTAs has become a 7-on-7 camp so he should be able to do all that stuff. As we get closer, which we are here in the next couple of weeks, we’ll communicate more with him.”
Rodgers is 40 and coming back from a major injury, but Saleh believes “it’s realistic” for the four-time MVP to be the player he was before getting hurt.
“I know he’s on a mission,” Saleh said. “Knowing Aaron, he’s on a mission to do a lot of things that he wanted to do last year and he’s not going to stop until he gets it done.”
Draft decisions
Douglas’ moves in free agency give the Jets the flexibility to go in any direction with the No. 10 pick, he said. Everything is on the table, including taking a quarterback, although that seems unlikely.
“I’m not going to get into whether we’re going to take a quarterback at 10 or not,” Douglas said. “I left the door open in terms of we’ve got a lot of flexibility. If there’s a player that we feel helps the Jets, we have the flexibility to do that. We’re thinking not only for this year but for the future, too. Ultimately, we want to do what’s best for the 2024 Jets as well.”
Offensive tackle, wide receiver and tight end are the more likely positions with the No. 10 pick. The Jets could take a quarterback later in the draft.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
