NFL analyst explains “good news” for Aaron Rodgers in Week 1 loss that saw Jets backup QB once again inserted
Aaron Rodgers is back in the conventional weekly grind during the regular season for the first time since he was with the Green Bay Packers. That said, one analyst called that a silver lining to the New York Jets' 32-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. However, speaking on Tuesday's episode of "Pro Football Talk," Mike Florio did admit that he looked "rusty."
"[1:12] Yeah, look, the good news is Aaron Rodgers got through the game for the most part. ... But I don't know whether he looked a little old or whether he looked a little rusty. I'm going to say he looked a little rusty."
He went on to give the quarterback a pass considering the gap since he last played past the first quarter of a game. Rodgers didn't play in the preseason and he also played just four snaps in his Jets debut against the Buffalo Bills in 2023.
Of course, he didn't finish the game once again. Perhaps in the interest of keeping the QB out of danger, the Jets inserted backup Tyrod Taylor late in the contest to make sure Rodgers gets to Week 2.
Aaron Rodgers puts on vintage struggle against Kyle Shanahan's San Francisco 49ers under big spotlight
Aaron Rodgers and San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan are no strangers to duking it out under the spotlight. However, in those matchups, Shanahan is also no stranger to coming out on top.
Since 2020, Rodgers has faced Shanahan in the playoffs twice. In 2020, he lost the contest. In 2022, he also lost. This year, on one of the biggest stages of the regular season, he also came up short.
Between the two playoff losses and the loss in his 2024 debut on Monday Night Football, Rodgers is 0-3 against Shanahan. In his 2024 debut, Rodgers threw for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
With the regular season showdown now in the rear-view mirror, Rodgers will only be able to face Shanahan this season in the Super Bowl. As such, with Rodgers now on the plus side of 40, the odds appear to be stacked and this might have been his final chance to unseat the 49ers coach.
It may also put a period on the big-time showdowns between two pillars of the NFC.
Will Aaron Rodgers turn it around next week or fall to the dreaded 0-2 record?