Aaron Rodgers takes subtle shot at Jets’ Garrett Wilson after Week 1 win

Rodgers praises DK Metcalf, ex-Packers players, which is ‘not the standard around the league’

The Pittsburgh Steelers won a thriller on Sunday, beating the New York Jets 34-32 in Aaron Rodgers’ return to MetLife Stadium.

The 41-year-old threw for 244 yards and recorded four touchdowns in the game, something he only accomplished once last season while playing for the Jets.

Wide receiver DK Metcalf led the team in what was also his Steelers’ debut, having been a part of one of the team’s blockbuster trades during the offseason. Calvin Austin III was impressive too, with four catches for 70 yards and a touchdown over the top of the Jets defense.

Rodgers was asked about Metcalf early this week, and took the time to give a detailed response:

“He’s about the right stuff. He cares about it enough to watch the film, put in the time, take notes, and ask questions, and come over and sit next to me during the week at various times, trying to get on the same page.”

He continued:

“That’s unfortunately not the standard around the league that I’ve been accustomed to. There was a lot of times in Green Bay, because those guys saw what it was like with Jordy Nelson, then Randall Cobb, James Jones, and Davante [Adams] got to watch that, and he was the next guy in line.”

He then half smiled and said:

“When you’re the lead dog in the room, that’s also… a great guy, and prepares the right way, it makes it easy for the rest of the room to follow his lead.”

While he never mentioned Garrett Wilson directly, that’s exactly the point. He took the time to credit every star receiver he’s ever worked with, except Wilson, while also suggesting the standard around the league doesn’t match what he’s used to.

Garrett Wilson had a good game on Sunday, collecting seven passes for 95 yards and a touchdown. He did, however, also have the ball forced out by a big hit from Jalen Ramsey, which ended the game.

Rodgers and Wilson had a tense relationship, fallout was inevitable

It was no secret that Garrett Wilson and Aaron Rodgers locked horns multiple times during their time together in New York.

Rodgers spoke about it multiple times last season, admitting that the two were trying to get on the same page. While he was with the team, he claimed it was nothing, but now that the two are no longer teammates, it’s all spilling out.

Garrett Wilson has said he and Rodgers don’t stay in touch, and that he hasn’t spoken to the veteran since he left the Jets.

The wide receiver is now reunited with his former college quarterback, Justin Fields, and the two seem to have built a great relationship. Fields threw a beautiful ball towards the front corner of the end zone on Sunday, which Wilson collected for his first score of the season.