Jets' Aaron Rodgers rips controversial Zach Wilson report

Injured New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke during a Tuesday appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" about a Monday report that claimed signal-caller Zach Wilson "is reluctant to step back into the starting role" for this Sunday's home game against the 7-5 Houston Texans. 

"Whoever that person is that thinks it’s OK to talk to anyone about it, I don’t know what you get out of that, but what is your impetus, your motivation to try and bury someone like that? That is a problem with the organization," Rodgers said about the story, per Ryan Chichester of Audacy. "We need to get to the bottom of wherever this is coming from and put a stop to it privately. There’s no place in a winning culture - and this isn’t the only time - there has been a bunch of leaks." 

Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported Monday that Rodgers "reached out to Wilson in an effort to advise him to resume the starter role" because the second overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft "remained apprehensive due to perceived injury risk." Jets head coach Robert Saleh benched Wilson during the Week 11 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 19, and the 24-year-old hasn't played since. 

"You want to be about using someone in the media to leak stuff to, in order to what? Get people to put your name out there for a job or if you’re a player, get you a write-up? I think it’s chickens--- at its core, and I think there’s no place in a winning organization to be a source, especially not if you’re gonna assassinate somebody’s character," Rodgers continued.

Earlier in the day, former Jets quarterback and current "The NFL Today" analyst Boomer Esiason explained during the WFAN morning show that "nobody" he asked with knowledge of the situation "denied" the details of the Wilson story. Meanwhile, it's believed Wilson will start for the 4-8 Jets versus Houston. 

"I’ll tell you I love the kid, I spent a lot of time with him," Rodgers added about Wilson. "I think he’s an amazing young man, and he’s young. He’s in his early 20s…he’s gone through a lot of s--- in the last three years, and he’s got every right to be frustrated and disappointed about it. I think he’s done a great job of standing up and taking accountability this year."

Rodgers going down with a torn Achilles four snaps into the regular-season opener on Sept. 11 torpedoed plans for the future Hall of Famer to serve as Wilson's mentor while the third-year pro sat throughout the campaign. Rodgers intends to play for the Jets through at least the 2024 season, but Wilson seems to have no long-term future with the club past Jan. 7.