The next time Aaron Rodgers plays for the New York Jets will be in Week 1 of the regular season.
Head coach Robert Saleh announced Thursday that Rodgers and the rest of the Jets’ regular players will sit out their final preseason game against the New York Giants on Saturday.
The 40-year-old quarterback said Tuesday he had “no real preference” as to whether he would play in the final preseason game.
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Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets looks on against the Washington Commanders during a preseason game at MetLife Stadium on August 10, 2024 in East Rutherford, NJ. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
“I’m happy with my body and what I’ve accomplished,” Rodgers said.
With Saleh’s decision, none of the Jets’ scheduled starters will play in any of the preseason games. Last season, Rodgers and the starters played two series during preseason games.
Earlier this week, Rodgers said, Saleh told him that the starters had received about 300 more snaps than they did this time last year.
“This year we had three different practice games,” Saleh said, “and I think we put in a lot of work.”
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Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets speaks to the media during an offseason workout at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on May 21, 2024 in Florham Park, NJ. (Sarah Bull/Getty Images)
The Jets had joint practices with the Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers and the Giants during training camp.
The four-time NFL MVP said this training camp was “a lot tougher this year and maybe the toughest in the last seven or eight years of my career.”
Saleh’s decision to bench his regular players in the preseason had nothing to do with fear of player injuries, he said.
“You can get hurt training,” he said. “You can get hurt brushing your teeth, for heaven’s sake. It all depends on whether we prepare properly and not just check the old coach’s box: ‘Ah, I feel good about this. We have to play.’
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Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets throws the ball during practice at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center on June 4, 2024 in Florham Park, NJ (Luke Hales/Getty Images)
“Does this really help us in Week 1? We’ve played them in the past and throughout the offseason we’ve taken a different approach to getting our guys ready for Week 1. And hopefully it works.”
Rodgers isn’t the only quarterback who won’t play against the Giants on Saturday. Backup Tyrod Taylor also won’t be playing. Adrian Martinez, last season’s UFL MVP, will start and fellow rookie Andrew Peasley will play in the second half.
The first time Rodgers and the Jets’ starting lineup will be in action is their Week 1 game on September 9 against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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