"Aaron Rodgers is the Oppenheimer of football" - Jets QB's teammate delivers quote of the season in training camp
It's early in training camp but the vibes are at an all-time high when it comes to Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets. An Achilles injury on September 11 dashed his hopes of a perfect first year with the Jets, and at one point the four-time NFL MVP thought the injury would spell the end of his NFL career.
"I was really thinking 'This is it. You don't come back from this injury,'" Rodgers said on the I Can Fly podcast in April.
But Rodgers made it through that dark place and all things considered, the Jets are in a pretty good position to compete this year. Rodgers has been sending timely reminders that he's still got it in training camp and his teammate Tyler Conklin admitted as much in an interview with reporters on Monday, July 29. Conklin heaped high praise on Rodgers and also dished out what could very well end up being the quote of the season.
“It’s hard to explain because so much of it is just seeing the game through Aaron’s eyes. And that’s kinda impossible because he’s kinda like the Oppenheimer of football. The way he sees and processes the game at the speed that he does, it’s impressive,” Conklin said.
Jets' preseason schedule set to kick off on August 10
Aaron Rodgers' Jets have three games lined up in preseason starting with an August 10 game against the new-look Washington Commanders at MetLife Stadium. They will then travel to Charlotte to face the Panthers on Aug. 17 and head back home to face the Giants on Aug. 24.
It remains to be seen if Rodgers will be in action. This time last year, Robert Saleh was keen on Rodgers featuring in preseason despite the fact that his quarterback could potentially risk an injury. It stands to reason that the Jets would be a little more apprehensive about Rodgers suiting up this year.
If the four-time NFL MVP doesn't suit up, Tyrod Taylor will likely take his reps as QB2 on the Jets depth chart. Jets fans need not wait much longer to see Rodgers set the league alight though. If all goes to plan, he will suit up when they face the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium in Week 1 on September 9 to kick off the Monday Night schedule for 2024.