Video game to the real thing: Jets' Sauce Gardner on facing Aaron Rodgers

GREEN BAY, Wis. — When Sauce Gardner played Madden growing up, the team he often used was the Packers because he wanted Aaron Rodgers to be his quarterback.

Now the rookie cornerback will go against the real Packers, and try to pick off the real Rodgers, for the Jets on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

“It’s a blessing first and foremost being able to go against somebody like him,” Gardner told Newsday. “In reality, it don’t matter that I’m a rookie, I get to be on the same field as him. I still got to take the same approach that I’ve been taking every other week.”

Gardner, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has quickly made an impact for the Jets (3-2). He is tied for fourth in the NFL with six passes defensed. Last week, he forced a safety on a blitz and recorded his first NFL interception.

The Packers (3-2) don’t have star receiver Davante Adams anymore, but Rodgers was the league MVP in the previous two seasons. He will be the best quarterback Gardner has faced.

Gardner said he’s done some extra video work on Rodgers and gotten some advice from teammates who have played against him before.

Robert Saleh told Gardner to expect Rodgers to “test you” and “be alert,” because even if his coverage is great, Rodgers will find a “hole.”

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich told Gardner and all his players that Rodgers is “very hard to trick.” He stressed the importance of their pre-snap stance and body posture because Rodgers has seen everything.

“If he knows the story when the ball’s hiked,” Ulbrich said, “it can be a long day for you.”

Gardner saw that on video.

“Some defenses are trying to show one thing and he already knows what they’re about to go to when the center snaps the ball,” Gardner said. “He’s a very smart quarterback. I just got to guard my man as well as I can. The play is not ever over because he can make plays with his feet. He can scramble and throw and he’ll get the ball there as well.”

The Jets have paid Rodgers all the proper respect, but they are not awestruck by him or the Packers, who don’t look like the same team that won 13 games in each of the previous three seasons.

This is a statement game for the Jets. They’re confident that their two-game winning streak is no fluke.

“It’s a big game mainly because it’s our next opponent,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said, “but also we have a chance to really make a statement. Going to Lambeau, historic stadium, great fan base, going against a great team with great coaches.”

The Jets are one of the NFL’s surprise teams along with the 4-1 Giants, who beat the Packers last week in London.

The Jets will be battling history on Sunday. After a loss, the Packers are 9-0 under coach Matt LaFleur. In those games, Rodgers has thrown for 2,601 yards, 24 touchdowns and one interception. Green Bay also has won 15 straight at Lambeau.

“I expect that typical stretch coming up at some point where we get really hot,” Rodgers said. “Hopefully it starts this week, but I think that’s right around the corner.”

The Jets are 2-0 since Zach Wilson returned from a knee injury. He will be trying to outduel the quarterback he patterned his game after the most. History favors Rodgers, which is why Ulbrich’s defense has to find ways to make him uncomfortable.

Ulbrich watched video of the five Packers-49ers games over the last three years to see how San Francisco attacked LaFleur’s offense (the 49ers won three of those matchups). He found “some strong indicators there.” San Francisco runs a variation of Saleh’s system with many of the same defensive concepts as the Jets.

Also, Ulbrich said facing the Jets’ offense helps because their system is similar to Green Bay’s. The Jets’ offensive coordinator is Mike LaFleur, Matt’s younger brother.

“There is some tremendous value for just going against our offense,” Ulbrich said, “because there are some similarities schematically the way they utilize players, the way they utilize guys with certain traits. There’s an advantage to that from our standpoint that we do go against this style of offense, we have so many banked reps, so much time on task.”

Limiting explosive plays from running backs Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon will be critical for the Jets. Their run defense allowed 137 yards to Miami last week and 184 to Cleveland when they faced a two-headed backfield of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

“We have to set edges more consistently, our pursuit on the back side has to be better, our gap discipline has to improve,” Ulbrich said. “If their run game is rolling, then their play-action game is rolling, their drop game, their quick game, all of it is alive, and when all of it’s alive with these guys, it can be tough, it can be a challenge. Trying to eliminate a component of the offense helps.”

Notes & quotes: Defensive end Vinny Curry is set to make his Jets' debut on Sunday. The Jets activated Curry, who missed all of last season after team doctors discovered he had a rare blood condition that caused his spleen to be enlarged. His spleen was removed. Curry was on injured reserve the first five games this year with a hamstring issue . . . The Jets also elevated tight end Kenny Yeboah and offensive lineman Mike Remmers from the practice squad and released tight end Lawrence Cager.

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.