Jets QB Aaron Rodgers likely won’t play during pre-season as he returns from a torn Achilles tendon

The only real highlight we have of Aaron Rodgers in a New York Jets uniform came during pre-season, with a beautiful touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson.

It certainly didn’t come in the regular season, when Rodgers lasted just four plays before tearing his left Achilles tendon. He missed the rest of the season.

Rodgers could also miss this preseason. Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Rodgers will not play in the first two preseason games and that they will discuss whether he will play at all in the third and final one. The Jets could decide to give him some snaps in that game, but it appears Saleh’s preference is for him to not play at all until their regular season opener on Sept. 9 in Santa Clara, California.

“My instincts are no, but I want to leave it open,” Saleh told New York media. “That third game is what we decide.”

That would mean we’ll have to wait a while for Rodgers’ next highlight, after a brief teaser last season. Rodgers played in one game this season, completing 5 of 8 passes for 48 yards, including a touchdown to Wilson.

Rodgers still hasn’t completed a regular-season pass for the Jets, which makes the decision on whether he’ll play this preseason an interesting one. The Jets don’t want to expose Rodgers to a game that doesn’t count after what happened last season. But it’s also a little risky to let Rodgers take his first snaps since last September against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Rodgers hasn’t completed a pass in a game that counts since Jan. 8, 2023. But hey, maybe a few preseason snaps don’t matter that much to a four-time MVP.

We’ll see if Rodgers can or will find his way into the lineup for the final preseason game. If not, his 2024 season opener will be even more interesting.