Jets HC explains why he held QB Aaron Rodgers out of joint practice with Commanders

While a little rain never hurt anybody, Saleh probably made a wise choice. Rodgers, 40, is coming off a right Achilles tendon tear he suffered in Week 1 against the Buffalo Bills last season. If he slipped and fell at practice, Rodgers could reinjure his Achilles. 

The Jets signed veteran backup QB Tyrod Taylor to a two-year, $12M deal this offseason, but he probably couldn't carry the team to playoffs if Rodgers went down again.

Unsurprisingly, the Jets plan to keep exercising caution. Saleh added Rodgers won't play in the team's first two preseason games, according to Cimini.

Rodgers recently indicated he has made excellent progress in his recovery. However, he acknowledged he still needs a strong camp with no setbacks.

"I think it’s gonna take a little time," Rodgers said at the beginning of camp, via Alex Smith of SNY-TV in New York. "I feel great. We track all the numbers where I work out west and have for a decade, and my movement stuff is tracking the exact same as last year. Actually, a little bit stronger with some of the squatting stuff that we did. I just need the reps. The last five percent of being 100 percent is just the mental part."

The Jets are being somewhat overprotective of Rodgers, but their thinking is understandable. New York is trying to make the playoffs for the first time since 2010, and the four-time MVP must stay healthy to end the postseason drought.