NFL Exec: Jets' Aaron Rodgers 'Has to Look at the Film and Be Honest with Himself'
October 7, 2024
Aaron Rodgers' lack of mobility in the pocket at the start of the 2024 season was called out by an anonymous NFL coach.
"You know the slide and then take two steps and then he kicks out of that every time in Green Bay?" the coach told Mike Sando of The Athletic. "He slides, takes two steps and gets sacked now. He has to look at the film and be honest with himself and say, 'I'm banged up, not moving that quickly anymore, so throw it away. More 55-60 percent [completion rate] games, not 70."
Rodgers has only been sacked 13 times on the season as a whole, but eight have occurred over his past two games. The Jets lost both contests, including a 23-17 defeat at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings in London on Sunday.
NFL @NFLHarrison Smith sacks Rodgers and hits the belt celebration<br><br>📺: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NYJvsMIN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NYJvsMIN</a> on NFL Network<br>📱: Stream on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLPlus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/Thb43Ethwt">pic.twitter.com/Thb43Ethwt</a>
It isn't the 40-year-old's fault that his ability to move around the pocket has declined compared to his tenure with the Green Bay Packers which included four MVP awards. He's currently the oldest active player in the NFL and is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury in 2023.
Through five starts this season, Rodgers has completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,093 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with four interceptions. He struggled mightily with turnovers against Minnesota, as he was picked off three times.
While Rodgers has developed a reputation for extending plays and finding receivers on the run throughout his career, he could start looking to get rid of the ball under pressure and avoid taking big hits in order to preserve his health for the remainder of the season.
The Jets will look to end their current two-game losing streak against a division rival in Week 6, facing the Buffalo Bills.
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