Jets' Robert Saleh explains curious Aaron Rodgers decision

New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh explained Wednesday why the club is activating Aaron Rodgers even though the quarterback won't play again this season coming off the torn Achilles he suffered on Sept. 11. 

"We have the roster flexibility with all the different things that have happened over the course of the last couple of weeks," Saleh said, per the Jets website. "Like I said, it’s all a part of his rehab, and just having him out on the football field is a plus for everyone. It’s a plus for him, it’s a plus for his teammates, so we’re going to keep him on the 53." 

Rodgers acknowledged roughly 48 hours after the 5-9 Jets were eliminated from postseason contention that he's "weeks" away from possibly facing a live defense. Assuming Rodgers and Saleh are being truthful about the 40-year-old not playing through Week 18, the future Hall of Famer is now essentially wasting a roster spot that could be filled by somebody capable of competing for a long-term job with the organization over the season's final three games.

"My instinct says if he was 100%, he'd probably be banging the door a little bit more," Saleh said about why Rodgers will remain sidelined, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. "But like he said, he's a couple weeks away, and so there's always weighing the risks."

Saleh indicated he possibly would've had "a different conversation" had the Jets not lost six of their last seven contests after they entered Week 9 4-3. It was reported as far back as October that Rodgers was "targeting" Sunday's home game against the Washington Commanders (4-10) as a potential return date, but he suggested on Tuesday he's now more focused on spending at least another two seasons as a player for the Jets. 

Whatever did or didn't happen behind the scenes, the decision to forfeit a roster spot on Rodgers probably won't silence those who believe Jets owner Woody Johnson has given the signal-caller far too much power considering Rodgers has thus far accomplished nothing with the organization.