After losing superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers four snaps into the 2023 season, Jets head coach Robert Saleh labeled this year as “one of the more trying seasons,” of his career.
“But I’m not looking for a pity party or anything,” he added.
Saleh just completed his third season at the helm of Gang Green with a second consecutive 7-10 record — a 13th consecutive playoff-less season for the organization that seemingly went up in smoke upon Rodges’ torn ACL in the season opener back in September.
At 40 years old, Rodgers is still the key piece in the Jets’ pursuit of a drought-busting playoff berth, which would perhaps provide some long-term stability for Saleh, whose job is safe despite a down year.
The Jets’ defense is a continuously improving unit that could be considered one of the best in the NFL if they had the proper offensive firepower to support them. Instead, Zach Wilson and Trevor Siemian often failed to provide the necessary time a defense needs off the field. Add a competent offense that will be led by a future Hall of Famer and the expectations are sky-high for Saleh heading into next year.
“I think he’s going to come out with more fire,” Saleh said on Monday. “My expectations for him are to be him. He’s 40 years old, he knows his process, he knows what’s best for him for his preparation. I think he’s going to attack it with the same mindset as he did a year ago. He’s on a mission and he’s not going to stop until his mission is complete.”
Both he and Rodgers, however, maintained that a few more passing-game playmakers are needed — outside wide receiver Garrett Wilson — to take the Jets to the next level.
“I think we need a couple of more pieces,” Rodgers said. “Anyone who doesn’t [win the Super Bowl] probably needs one or two more pieces. But we’re close. We have to make some tough decisions about certain individuals… We need to make sure that we have guys… at an All-Pro level on the offensive side of the ball.”
The four-time MVP was quick to offer his services to general manager Joe Douglas in helping find some of those pieces. As has been speculated for most of this season, one of those pieces could be Rodgers’ former Green Bay Packers teammate, wide receiver Davante Adams.
“[I’m here to help] as much or as little as they want,” Rodgers said. “I have relationships with various people across the NFL and friends and I work out together with a lot of different NFL guys. [Douglas] and his staff have done a nice job over the years. If he wants my help in recruiting, I’m available.”
He then set his sights on the struggling offensive line.
“I think we need some characters on the offensive line,” Rodgers said. “Some of the best lines we’ve ever had had some serious characters… Bring in some high-character guys. If they’re characters, that’d be fantastic.”
Rodgers’ experimental SpeedBridge surgery to repair his torn ACL had him flirting with an unprecedented 2023 return — one that might have been accelerated had the Jets remained in the playoff hunt nearing Christmas Eve.
But with the Jets eliminated following an embarrassing 30-0 Week 15 loss to the Miami Dolphins, Rodgers was activated for practice, but any notion of him playing was shut down.
“I just watched him carve us up over the last month against the scout team,” Saleh said. “So he still has all kinds of juice, energy, and arm talent.”
So begins an agonizing wait for all at 1 Jets Drive to realize the vision that was put into place nine months ago.
“There are 31 teams who have long, troubling offseasons,” Rodgers said. “There’s only one team that can hold that trophy and we want to be that team. Stick with us, as you will. It’s going to be a long offseason for all of us. I look forward to getting back here… and start building the excitement like we did last year and hopefully have a little bit more good fortune.”
