A Rocky Start in Pads for New York Jets and Aaron Rodgers
On Monday, the New York Jets had a practice session that was anything but smooth. Marking their first day in pads this season, the practice exposed some significant hiccups and highlighted areas that need improvement, much to the visible frustration of veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers, who has been sharp in camp leading up to this session, found himself struggling to find his rhythm. The series of blunders from his teammates only added to his visible anger and impatience. Seemingly starting on the wrong foot, Rodgers threw an interception just two plays into the practice, largely influenced by a dropped pass from wide receiver Allen Lazard, who joined the Jets this offseason.
"Honestly, he expects the same standard that he holds himself to out of everyone else, and today just didn't resemble that at all. I think as an offense we were just a little bit sloppy," Lazard admitted after the practice.
During the session, Rodgers faced numerous "sacks" and suffered from about half-a-dozen off-target shotgun snaps from Joe Tippmann. These inaccurate snaps forced Rodgers to constantly jump for the ball, disrupting the flow of the practice and contributing to his visible frustration. Adding to the chaos, Rodgers was stepped on by either Tippmann or offensive lineman John Simpson during one of these mishaps.
Tippmann, a second-round draft pick in 2023, has been struggling with his snaps since the beginning of the camp. Understanding the gravity of the situation, Tippmann practiced his snaps with Rodgers and a coach on the sideline. Head Coach Robert Saleh acknowledged the issue, stating, "Yeah, he has to work on it. There's clearly something going on."
Rodgers' interactions with his teammates were intense, including a heated conversation with wide receiver Garrett Wilson on the sideline. Despite these challenges, Rodgers' high standards and determination to succeed were evident throughout the practice.
Tyler Conklin, reflecting on Rodgers’ leadership, remarked, "I think that's the beauty of playing with a great like that. You have someone that's going to, at all times, hold everybody accountable, no matter who you are. I think that's kind of something that not every team has. I think that's really a blessing at the end of the day to have someone that cares that much and has a standard like that."
The Jets, who scored a league-low 18 touchdowns last season, are looking to integrate Rodgers into their system to elevate their performance. Rodgers himself aims to add another Super Bowl ring to his illustrious career. The practice session, despite its rocky nature, is an essential part of this integration process.
Conklin added, "That's going to become our standard as a team. But to have a Hall of Famer who has won a Super Bowl—been there, done that—I think that's necessary."
Rodgers’ ability to hold his teammates to a high standard and his visible commitment to the team's success were underscored by Lazard, who described him as "demonstrative" and noted, "You're talking about one of the best, if not the best quarterback of all time, and his standard and level of play is something a lot of guys haven't seen yet. Even this organization—they haven't really been with him on game day because being with him on the sideline on a Sunday is different."
While Monday's practice revealed a series of obstacles that need addressing, it also highlighted Rodgers’ unyielding drive and the high expectations he brings to the team. The coming days and weeks will be crucial for the Jets as they work to smooth out these rough edges and fully harness the leadership and skill of their new quarterback.