The New York Jets began this season with high hopes, banking on a rejuvenated Aaron Rodgers to return to MVP form and lead the team to relevance in the AFC. But after Sunday’s shocking 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots, dropping the Jets to a bleak 2-6 record, questions are mounting about whether Rodgers’ best days are behind him. Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux echoed that sentiment after the game, implying that Rodgers may no longer be the player who captured four MVP awards over his illustrious career.
“I think he’s struggling right now,” Godchaux said, per Andy Vasquez of NJ Advance Media. “A Hall of Fame quarterback like that? Just hate to see him go out that way. But always going to take a win against him to put on your resume.”
Rodgers’ performance in New England was solid but unspectacular. The 40-year-old completed 17 of 28 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, showing flashes of his old self but also signs of his current limitations. Injuries have nagged at Rodgers all season—both knees, an ankle, and now a hamstring strain, which limited his mobility against the Patriots. Though he helped the Jets build a late 22-17 lead, miscues, including a delay of game penalty during a crucial two-point conversion attempt, added to the struggles for a Jets offense that looks increasingly out of sync.
Statistically, Rodgers’ 50.3 adjusted QBR and 85.1 passer rating place him near the bottom tier of NFL quarterbacks this season, according to ESPN. Through eight games, he’s managed 12 touchdowns but has also thrown seven interceptions—numbers that aren’t typical of his previous elite status.
Following the firing of head coach Robert Saleh after Week 5, the Jets have dropped five consecutive games under interim leadership, leaving fans to question if Rodgers’ presence alone can turn things around.
“He definitely don’t look the same,” Godchaux added. “He just don’t look like he can move back there. S—, I can run him down and catch him. He don’t look mobile at all. So it was good for us. We [knew] we [could] get after him and attack him in the passing game, too.”
The road ahead doesn’t get any easier for Rodgers and the Jets, who face the 6-2 Houston Texans this Thursday night. Favored by DraftKings, the Texans enter as a one-point favorite, as the Jets’ playoff chances continue to dwindle with each passing week. For Rodgers and the Jets, Thursday’s game is critical if they hope to avoid a season lost to what was once a promising campaign.
