Jets prepare to face Aaron Rodgers
Packers' Aaron Rodgers throws a pass during loss to the Bears on Sunday in Chicago. Credit: AP/Nam Y. Huh
The Jets are happy they won’t have to chase a mobile quarterback this week, but Aaron Rodgers, who has been slowed by nagging injuries, causes fits for other reasons.
“Aaron is going to make plays when there’s not a play to be made,” Jets inside linebacker Avery Williamson said.
The Jets officially will start preparing for Rodgers and Green Bay when they return to practice Wednesday. But he’s on their minds already.
Rodgers is having another strong season, throwing 23 touchdown passes and just two interceptions. His interception total is the fewest for any quarterback with at least 23 TDs. However, Rodgers has been sacked 44 times, fifth most in the league. The Packers could decide to hold out Rodgers, who was sacked five times by Chicago Sunday and was bothered by a groin issue, because they can't make the playoffs. But Rodgers has said he’d like to play.
“If they rest him, they rest him,” Williamson said. “If not, we’ll be ready to go regardless.”
Over the last three weeks, the Jets faced Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Houston’s DeShaun Watson. All three led their teams in rushing against the Jets.
If Rodgers plays, the Jets won’t have to worry about that. They’ll have to be concerned with him shredding their defense with his arm.
“He’s a phenomenal quarterback,” Williamson said. “It’s a good thing we don’t have to deal with a scrambling quarterback this week. But we have to do good at disguising and we have to be good at keeping him in the pocket.
“He can make plays outside the pocket well. His receivers do a good job of playing off of him when the pocket breaks down. They can re-adjust their routes well.”
Notes & quotes: The Jets signed WR DeAngelo Yancey to the practice squad. Yancey was the Packers’ fifth-round pick in 2017 out of Purdue.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
