"A lot of slander toward JJ Watt": Aaron Rodgers reveals Woody Johnson, Jets torched former Texans star after his comment on QB
Aaron Rodgers credited JJ Watt's comments about the New York Jets for the team's turnaround against the Houston Texans in Week 9's Thursday Night Football. After going into halftime 7-0 down, the Jets responded with 21 points in the second half to secure a 21-13 win, their first since Week 3 when they dominated the New England Patriots 24-3.
In the wake of this win, Rodgers appeared on the Pat McAfee Show to talk about Thursday's game. When McAfee asked him what changed in the second half, Rodgers said that JJ Watt's comments about the Jets being favored against the Texans helped their case, even adding that owner Woody Johnson was trying to motivate the team.
"Guys were passing around the JJ Watt video, said we shouldn't be favored, all that and so a lot of slander toward JJ, in the locker room. Oh my god, it started with Woody, he was holding it above his head, there was a rocky montage from this Rocky III, it was a lot," the veteran quarterback said.
So what comments Rodgers was referring to? Ahead of the Jets-Texans duel, former three-time Defensive Player of the Year JJ Watt joined the Pat McAfee show and had the chance to talk about the 'fountain of youth' that punter Thomas Morstead gave to Rodgers.
The former Defensive Player of the Year wasn't having any of that and made some sarcastic comments about Aaron Rodgers using water and cayenne pepper to find good plays for the Jets.
"I'm gonna do that today, actually. Then I might sign up for a team," Watt said. "Is this a joke, man? Just go play the ball, try and be better. I'm so sick of all of us talking about this s**t. It's not working. You are 2-6. Sprinkle on the playbook. Maybe it'll pick the good plays like a ouija board," said Watt, who played for the Texans from 2011 to 2020.
Aaron Rodgers went off against the Texans
Despite JJ Watt's comments, Aaron Rodgers and the Jets pulled off the win against the Texans despite a rocky start to the game. The four-time NFL MVP was on a mission on Thursday, completing 22 of 32 pass attempts for 211 yards and three touchdowns.
The Jets snapped a five-game losing streak and did it against a strong opponent in the CJ Stroud-led Texans. They will clash against the Arizona Cardinals next week, trying to extend their momentum after a series of bad results.