Aaron Rodgers says Jets offense ‘needs to grow up’ as frustrations in New York reach
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers has offered some stern advice to both his teammates and fans as frustrations grow after multiple poor performances on offense.
Rodgers was making his weekly appearance on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’ when he said that he wasn’t a fan of the ‘little side conversations’ that took place during the 15-10 loss to the New England Patriots and said his teammates needed to ‘grow up.’
‘I think we need to hold our poise a little bit better across the board,’ Rodgers said.
‘Just offensively, we need to not have some of those things happen on the sideline and to be a little better and to be a, just be a little better competitors.
‘Too many little side conversations, and we just need to grow up a little bit on offense and lock in and do our jobs and not point fingers at each other — and that’s everybody. Don’t point fingers at the coaching staff, don’t point fingers at each other. Just get back to work and get the job done.’
Aaron Rodgers said the Jets offense ‘needs to grow up’ amid rising frustration levels
Running back Michael Carter was seen yelling at his position coach on the sideline on Sunday
WR Garrett Wilson also had a animated conversation with quarterback Zach Wilson
Rodgers was in large part alluding to the animated conversations seen on the sidelines involving WR Garrett Wilson and RB Michael Carter.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback was forced to watch the game against New England from his home on Sunday as he continues the first steps in rehabbing the torn Achilles, he suffered only four plays into his Jets debut in Week 1.
New York pulled off a miraculous overtime win against the Buffalo Bills during that Week 1 game before dropping the next to contest after Zach Wilson filled in as the starter and the offense delivered putrid performances in both games.
‘I feel like if I was there, some of those things wouldn’t be happening,’ said Rodgers, who underwent Achilles surgery Sept. 13. ‘[I’m] not sure we’d be 3-0 — I don’t know that.
‘I’d like to think there’s a possibility of that, but it’s more the side stuff that I don’t like and that I want to see us stick together through the tough times.’
The tough times were seemingly made worse very quickly as Jets legend and NFL Hall of Famer Joe Namath went full scorched earth in voicing his displeasure with Wilson’s performances, as well as the Jets lead decision makers for staying loyal to the struggling third-year QB.
Wilson was benched last year by head coach Robert Saleh on two separate occasions for poor play, however Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas decided on a plan to allow Wilson to backup Rodgers and learn from one of the games greats before regaining the starting role in after Rodgers eventually retired.
After that plan was quickly altered following Rodgers injury the Jets then chose not to bring in a veteran quarterback to challenge, if not replace, Wilson as the starter.
The Jets signed veteran journeyman Trevor Siemian to the team’s practice squad on Tuesday
Jets legend Joe Namath recently blasted Zach Wilson’s ‘disgusting’ production and coaches
Earlier on Tuesday the Jets completed the signing of veteran journeyman Trevor Siemian to the practice squad although he is far from considered a savior at the position due to his resume.
The 31-year-old Siemian has a career record of 13-17, with 42 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. His only seasons as a starter came in 2016 and 2017 with the Denver Broncos and has since been released from several backup roles.
Siemian was the Jets backup in 2019 and filled in for then QB Sam Darnold who was dealing with mononucleosis, but only lasted one quarter before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.
Before adding Siemian, the Jets were linked with several other QBs including Colin Kaepernick who recently had a letter he sent to the Jets asking for a chance to prove himself made public by award-winning rapper J Cole.