Did Jets' Aaron Rodgers abandon Zach Wilson during tumultuous season?

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers said ahead of the 2023 NFL season that his relationship with backup Zach Wilson had "been the most important one" during the future Hall of Famer's tenure with the organization that officially began in late April. 

It appears things between the two changed after Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles in Week 1 on Sept. 11. 

According to a lengthy story produced by Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Wilson's feelings about Rodgers "soured over the season" and after the 24-year-old was thrust back into New York's lineup. 

"Wilson told coaches and teammates he was under the impression he’d have a direct line to Rodgers, even after Rodgers tore his Achilles and flew home to California for surgery in the early stages of his rehab," Rosenblatt and Russini explained. "Instead, Wilson barely heard from him."

Additionally, Rosenblatt and Russini wrote that Wilson, some teammates and members of the coaching staff "grew tired" of how head coach Robert Saleh repeatedly "fawned over Rodgers" amid the 40-year-old's recovery. 

The story also mentioned that "Saleh asked Rodgers to speak with Wilson, to convince the young quarterback to change his mind" after it was reported in early December that Wilson was "reluctant to step back into the starting role" following his latest benching at Saleh's hand. 

While Rosenblatt and Russini said that Saleh's plan initially "didn’t work," Wilson ultimately resumed his QB1 duties until he suffered what became a season-ending concussion in Week 15. The Jets are expected to trade Wilson this offseason. 

According to ESPN stats, Wilson ended the regular season ranked last in the NFL among qualified players with a 30.6 adjusted QBR, 32nd with a 77.2 passer rating and 32nd with a 60.1% completion percentage. In fewer than 12 full games, the 2021 first-round draft pick tossed eight touchdown passes and seven interceptions. 

In December, Rodgers ripped individuals within the Jets responsible for "a bunch of leaks." He later insisted that "the bull---- that has nothing to do with winning has to get out of the (Jets') building" this offseason. 

Logic suggests Rodgers is less than thrilled that "30 sources in and around the organization" spoke with Rosenblatt and Russini for the piece published on Wednesday.