Aaron Rodgers is adamant he wants to finish the season as the New York Jets’ starting quarterback.
“We get paid for 17 weeks. Not 10, not 11, not five,” Rodgers said Tuesday on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“One of my goals this year coming back from the Achilles was to play all 17 games … plus whatever playoff games we played in. Obviously, that hasn’t been the case this year, but we still got five games left, and I would love to be out there battling with the guys.”
After an Achilles tendon injury sidelined Rodgers for the 2023 campaign, the veteran signal-caller is having one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. Rodgers has produced his lowest yards per passing attempt since his 2006 sophomore campaign and his lowest completion percentage since 2019. He’s also thrown eight interceptions in 12 games.
Interim coach Jeff Ulbrich was initially mum about benching Rodgers following Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Jets were held scoreless in the second half after going up 21-7 in the first half, with Rodgers completing 21 of 39 passes for 185 yards, two passing touchdowns, and a pick-6 in the contest.
However, on Monday, Ulbrich shed some light on Rodgers’ future this season, saying that the four-time NFL MVP would remain the starter and that the issue wouldn’t be a week-to-week situation.
“He’s our quarterback,” Ulbrich said, per The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt. “We have great belief in Aaron. We think he gives us the best opportunity to win.”
Rodgers told McAfee in late November that the Jets would be his first option if he continued playing in 2025.
The Jets are 3-9 with Rodgers as their starting quarterback. NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport reported Sunday that it would be a “long shot” for Rodgers to return as the team’s starter next season.
