The Aaron Rodgers era with the New York Jets is fully underway. It was a long time coming, but the trade took much longer than most fans expected. Now that it’s done, Aaron Rodgers’ time in New York will be under a microscope all season long. One of the storylines will certainly be how quickly Aaron Rodgers picks up the offense in New York and how fast he gets acclimated with his teammates. That acclimation already has the full attention of the media, fans, and even coaching staff.
Aaron Rodgers Acclimation With New York Jets “Biggest Storyline To Watch”
According to Ralph Ventre:
Judy Battista raised the $100 million question on every New York Jets fan’s mind.
In “2023 NFL season: 10 fascinating storylines to follow at mandatory minicamps,” the NFL Network reporter led off with Aaron Rodgers.
“The biggest question for the New York Jets: How fast can Aaron Rodgers, the offense and new faces get on the same page?” wrote Battista.
In terms of “Aaron’s Acclimation,” Jets’ brass has never seemed too concerned about the possibility of a bumpy transition back into offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett’s scheme.
“If there’s a great rapport with the coordinator, there’s really no urgency,” said Jets’ head coach Robert Saleh while the Rodgers trade rumors were swirling in late March. “If he understands the system, if the quarterback knows it, it’s just a matter of just refining skills and doing all that stuff, so there’s no hurry on that right now.”
The absence of urgency also stems from the continuity Rodgers has with receivers Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb, who both signed free-agent deals with Gang Green this offseason.
“Remember Hackett was with Randall too, so he’s a guy who’s got a lot of experience in the system. He’s a guy that they’re very comfortable and familiar with,” said Saleh.
The pass-catchers’ value to the equation extends beyond their past on-field experience with Rodgers. Their knowledge of Hackett’s system gives them the ability to tutor Jets’ holdovers like Garrett Wilson, accelerating the adjustment period that comes with a new quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers meshing with the New York Jets as early as possible will be key in their success in 2023. It was already reported in early May that Rodgers wouldn’t be present for much of the Jets’ OTAs. That was something Green Bay Packers fans became all to familiar with, but it was still a surprise to some Jets fans. If the Jets’ 2023 season starts off slow, many fingers may be pointed at Rodgers’ decision to skip parts of the off-season activities.
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