Aaron Rodgers hints at over $50,000 fine from Jets for unexcused Egypt trip - "I knew what I was getting into"

Aaron Rodgers skipped the mandatory minicamp for a trip to Egypt, which created controversy around the New York Jets quarterback in a season where the team is banking heavily on him. Rodgers is returning from a serious injury and staying with the team to re-create chemistry felt like a massive thing to do.

On Wednesday, the quarterback spoke about his absence and what led to his trip midway through the offseason workouts. While he acknowledged that he deserved to be fined - which he was -, he also said that his absence was more of a problem outside the organization than inside.

​

​

​

​

"Back in some of the doldrums of the rehab, I thought it'd be fun to put together a trip with some friends. I had a great talk with Robert. Obviously he wanted me to be there. I knew the consequences if I wasn't going to be there," Aaron Rodgers said.

"The reaction is what it is. I made it a point to be at every OTA, I was at the physical day as a part of the minicamp ... [and I] had talks with all my teammates about it. I think they all understood it was more of an issue outside the building than it was inside the building," Rodgers added.

The fine for skipping a day at the mandatory minicamp is set at $50,000 according to the most recent CBA signed in 2020.

What was the injury suffered by Aaron Rodgers in 2023?

Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles injury just four snaps into 2023 and missed the rest of the year as a result, which dashed New York's dreams of making the playoffs for the first time since 2010.

He had been traded from the Green Bay Packers after a decade and a half with the team, but just one Super Bowl win, which left scars late into their relationship. With Rodgers injured, Zach Wilson took over as the starter, but his level was nowhere near what it needed to be.

The Jets have one of the best rosters in the NFL and are looking to finally break their playoff drought since the Rex Ryan days.

​