After the season-ending injury to Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets quickly affirmed their loyalty to backup and former first-round draft pick Zach Wilson. However, with two weeks as the starter under his belt, the results have been less than promising. The vote of confidence from the Jets ownership hasn’t stopped agents for some former quarterbacks from reaching out – just in case.
According to Jay Glazer, former Commanders quarterback Carson Wentz and former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan both contacted the Jets about the starting QB job.
Wentz, once an NFL darling, was a starter at the beginning of last year for the Commanders. But after an injury, he couldn’t beat out his backup Taylor Heinicke, who eventually lost the job to rookie Sam Howell.
Meanwhile, Matt Ryan is now a TV analyst for CBS NFL coverage this season. But the 38-year-old hasn’t ruled out a potential return to the league.
“I’m staying in shape,” Ryan told The Athletic in early August. “I think it is kind of, ‘You know my number. You know where I’m at.’ If anything were to come up, you know, we’ll see. [CBS] is where my focus is at right now. But we’ll see how the season shakes out.”
Ryan was one of the most prolific passers in the league for most of his career. But the 2022 campaign with the Colts didn’t reflect that success. Ryan threw 14 touchdown passes with 13 interceptions in 12 starts as Indianapolis ended the year with a 4-12-1 record.
Rodgers planning return to Jets after rehab
The start of Aaron Rodgers’ time with the Jets was very short-lived after he popped his Achilles in their opener on Monday Night Football. Since then, it’s been all about rehab for the four-time NFL MVP as hopes to return to the field for the franchise at some point.
Still, just being away from New York and his team has been hard enough on him after acclimating so well. That’s why, as he said on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ on Friday, he’s hoping to return to The Big Apple soon, potentially for their upcoming home stand, to reunite with his team.
“I would like to be able to walk. Whenever I can walk, then I’ll probably be back in New Jersey,” Rodgers said. “I miss the guys. Obviously, every single day I’m checking in with Zach (Wilson) and (Nathaniel) Hackett and Todd (Downing), CJ, Billy (Turner). Whoever hits me up. The guys have been great keeping in touch with me. But I miss the guys. It’s hard to be away from them.”
“We’ve got a couple home games in a row, New England this weekend and KC,” noted Rodgers. “Hopefully I’ll be able to get back there at some point but I’d like to be walking.”
Rodgers’ big reason for wanting to be able to walk before returning to the team’s sideline is that he’s hoping to avoid any scenario where he is immobile and gets knocked over.
“I don’t think I can be on the sideline until I can evade guys running over that might be in my way,” Rodgers joked.
Rodgers has shown to be a great teammate in New York since his arrival this offseason. Now, while he may be lost for this season, he wants to continue to be one as soon as possible with a return to the Jets’ building in the near future.
On3’s Sam Gillenwater contributed to this report.
More must-reads: